I want to be rich!

From the desk of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D. Paul teaches, “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” (2 Corinthians 8:9). I heard a believer saying that this verse of Scripture proves that Christians are supposed to be wealthy. Is that what Paul is teaching? No, it is not! From the context of this verse, Paul urges the Corinthian believers to follow through on a previous commitment to give money to meet the needs of suffering believers in Jerusalem. He made clear in the previous verse that this is not a command but an opportunity to express the love of Christ to other believers. Now he describes how contributing to this gift is Christlike. How was Jesus rich? He was rich and secure in the glory of heaven. He willingly became poor when He became a man, entering into the world of suffering and death in the flow of time on earth. He did this in order to die for the sins of humanity so that all who trust in Him can be forgiven of their sin and one day experience the wealth and security of living in glory with God. In other words, Jesus demonstrated God’s grace by willingly becoming poor so the Corinthian Christians could become rich forever. Now the Corinthian believers had an opportunity to perform an act of grace themselves that would follow the example of Jesus’ own sacrifice. In other places, Scripture portrays poor people as having been blessed, and many who are rich are seen in a negative light. Jesus Himself was poor, not having a home or a “place to lay his head” (Matthew 8:20). The disciples and most of Jesus’ followers were poor, at least in worldly terms, but rich in spiritual wealth. The disciples even left all they had to follow Jesus, giving up all they owned, placing their full trust and faith in Him to provide what they needed. Jesus said the poor will always be with us (Matthew 26:11). Our attitude should be that of the writer in Proverbs who said, “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread” (Proverbs 30:8). Be encouraged!