Riches
Are you rich? Some would say yes to this question. Others may answer and state they are not. We live in the most wonderful country in the world. By the world’s standards, even the poorest of us is rich. If you have ever traveled abroad, you have seen this with your own eyes.
But the kind of riches this speaks of are material in nature. How rich are you spiritually? There is a passage in the Bible that I truly marvel at. It is found in 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” (NASB)
In this verse, we see the grace of Jesus Christ. We find that our Lord was rich. But for our sake He became poor. It was through His poverty that we can become rich. Jesus had everything you and I desire today...a home in heaven with God the Father. He had that and therefore was rich.
When Jesus came to earth, He had nothing. He did not own a house, or have an animal to ride on. He borrowed a colt to enter the city of Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11). He used someone’s upper room to have the Passover meal with His apostles (Luke 23:11-13).
And we find that it was through His poverty that we might become rich because He was willing to come to our world, take on human flesh, live the life He lived, and then was put to death, buried and rose again on the third day that we can become rich. You see, by the faith and trust we have in Jesus, we can live with God one day through all eternity.
I love this passage of scripture. It tells me of the care and concern Jesus had for me. It tells me of all He gave up to come into our world. It tells me there is something wonderful awaiting me at the end of my journey on this earth.
And all of these things are true for every person who is willing to believe in Jesus, repent of the sin in their lives, confess Him before men and be baptized into Christ. After doing these things we are called to live faithfully all the days of our lives.
Jesus gave up so much for you and me. It’s exciting to live for Him and to look forward to all He offers. Let’s all be faithful and do our best to please Him always.