POVERTY IS NOT A BLESSING – Pastor Chris
Friday, April 29, 2022
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).
The Bible says, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it” (Proverbs 10:22). Poverty isn’t a blessing. That’s the reason Jesus delivered us from it. The Bible says He was rich, yet for our sakes, He became poor so that through His poverty, we might be made rich. He gave us prosperity in place of poverty, in the same way that He gave us His righteousness in place of sin.
When we say poverty isn’t a blessing, that’s not to say that when someone is poor, something is wrong with him or her; no! Anyone can make a choice. It’s like what the Bible says about many who suffered, not accepting deliverance, that they may obtain a better resurrection (Hebrews 11:35).
There may be people who have chosen to live in poverty. If that’s your choice, it’s okay, because it’s the choice you’ve made. It’s a sacrifice, and you shouldn’t feel ashamed for making that choice. But if you became poor circumstantially or as a result of being oppressed by others or for some other reasons outside of your personal choice, then that’s not okay. You have a right to change things.
However, when you choose to be poor, don’t try to make anybody else poor, except they also seek from you the principles of poverty, that they also might become poor. But there’re some of us who are called to do certain things in the world for which reason we can’t and must not be poor. This isn’t because we love to be “rich” but because of responsibility, because of what we have to do. God is counting on us to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. He said in Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” The Gospel is free but it’s not cheap to publish.
The Lord said through the Prophet in Zechariah 1:17, “…My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad….” Refuse to be poor. Make up your mind that you’ll be as prosperous as God has ordained you to be. He said in 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” He wants you to prosper spiritually, physically, and financially. Make a choice not to be anything less.
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CONFESSION
I’m an heir of God and a joint-heir with Christ; the world belongs to me. All things are mine; I dwell in the realm of superabundance, where I’m graciously supplied with every good thing. I walk in my inheritance in Christ, prospering, in divine health, even as my soul prospers. Hallelujah!
FURTHER STUDY:
2 Peter 1:2-3; Psalm 23:1-2; Romans 8:17
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 23:26-49 & 2 Samuel 4-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: 1 Corinthians 1:10-21 & Psalm 139-140
