Are you rich? Before you start to think of your wallet or pocketbook, I want you to think about what it means to be rich in God’s eyes. Riches in the eyes of God are not nice cars, big houses, and a big salary. When God thinks about riches, he thinks about: eternal life, happiness, peace, and a joy that is unspeakable! He gave his life on an old rugged cross to not only secure our salvation, but to also bestowe upon us the happiness, peace, and joy that we have always wanted. He left his home filled with Heavenly riches, and came down to a humble stable to be born. He then lived in a modest home as his earthly father was a lowly carpenter. Also, when he started his earthly minstry, he had to eat off the land, borrow food, water, and a donkey to ride into Jeruselem with. When he was hanging on THE cross, he was stripped of his clothes. What humiliation! When he died, he was even put in a borrowed tomb, with borrowed clothes. This was all done so that "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." [2Corinthians 8:9]
Rich in what? Salvation, blessings of peace, happiness, and joy that sings in your heart! Riches that are true prosperity!
There four things I want us to look at in this verse. ARE YOU RICH? Let’s study this passage together, and pray that we find these riches in our blessed Lord.
The first thing Paul shows us is:
1. THE LORD’S GRACIOUS PERSONALITY
"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus...."
The second thing Paul wants to bring our attention to is:
2. THE LORD’S GREAT PROSPERITY
"that though He was rich...."
Thirdly, Paul wants to reminds us of:
3. THE LORD’S GRINDING POVERTY
"yet for your sakes He became poor...."
Finally, Paul tells us, this all took place to show that this was for:
4. THE LORD’S GLORIOUS PURPOSE
"that you through His poverty might become rich."
So are you rich? You can be! Through the cross comes life! Through the cross comes peace and happiness! Through the cross comes a joy that is unspeakable. A joy that rings in your heart, and is uncontainable to keep inside your self, you can’t help but have a smile on your face! Today, re-receive the happiness of your salvation in the wonderful, wonder-working Son of the Living God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Pray, ask the Lord to pour out his love on you, his happiness, his peace, his joy, and all his heavenly riches on you. I promise that our great Lord will pour out all his riches on you! You will truly be BLESSED! Because:
"FOR YOU KNOW THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THAT THOUGH HE WAS RICH, YET FOR YOUR SAKES HE BECAME POOR, THAT YOU THROUGH HIS POVERTY MIGHT BECOME RICH." [2CORINTHIANS 8:9] Amen! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
