Though He was Rich He became Poor

Long before Jesus journeyed here to rescue you and me from our human brokenness and poverty he eternally existed in splendor as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Talk about wealth. He had it all! In comparison, he would make the wealth of Bill Gates look like a molecule of sand on Mars. He alone has immortality and he dwells in unapproachable light, so much so that no human being can see his glory. (Timothy 6:11-16) But he gave it all up. Jesus Christ set the example for the rich to serve the poor. But give it all up for poor loser hobos? How unjust is that? Love is unjust! Jesus did not wait for us to become good before loving us in our human suffering. While we were yet bankrupt sinners, he lavished his wealth upon us. Guess what? Now we are to go and do likewise. Though he was rich in every way, he became poor to rescue you and me from our poverty. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Here are a few questions to consider in order to help assess your personal wealth. How are you rich today? Do you have money? Are you smart? Did you go to good schools? Were you blessed with good looks? Do you go to the gym to workout and have good health? Do you have good doctors and healthcare? Do you have a car and a house? Do you have the right color of skin to get a good job? Do you have a clean and coherent American English way of speaking? Do you have friends and connections? If you said yes to one or more of these questions, guess what? You're wealthy. God is now asking each one of us to lay down all of our wealthy assets just as he emptied himself and to enter the world of the homeless, poor and needy around us. Remember, the kingdom of God does not belong to the rich and powerful. The kingdom belongs to another very large family. It has brothers named Charity and sisters named Mercy, and a whole houseful of cousins, such as Kindness, and Favor, and Goodwill, and Pity, Thanksgiving, and Reward.