POVERTY IS WEALTH?
How do I simultaneously express two otherwise paradoxical ideas so as to produce the higher perspective? Here goes…
I’m convinced that my greatest wealth is in poverty of spirit.
“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word” (Isaiah 66:2).
So, there is a poverty that is wealth…because:
“The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and difficulty does not accompany it” (Proverbs 10:22 NLT, ISV).
Quick word study…
Ani, here translated “humble,” also denotes the words poor, needy, afflicted, sick.
Nakeh, here “contrite,” is also stricken, hurt, weak, or wounded.
In sickness, weakness, need, or wounding from broken dreams or relationships…you don’t fall into a powerless depression.
You don’t answer betrayal with revenge, or difficulties with trying to manipulate situations (which is witchcraft)…
…but all life’s difficulties become an opportunity to remember and to “bask in” your need for God, because that need is the key to His blessing.
This poverty is my freedom to depend on the Creator…so that I am not at the whims of the created and temperamental universe.
My poverty is none other than the God-sized “hole” in me.
This is a poverty that makes you rich…
…because as much as you might be able to get for yourself through your own blood, sweat and tears…
…the blessings that come through His blood, sweat, and tears shed for you 2000 years ago is exceedingly more, and as Proverbs 10:22 tells us, has zero negative side effects!
You have full permission to be less like a strong man and more like a child. It’s less having the answers and more having ‘The Answer,’ because the Answer is a person.
“God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).
Get Serious Delirious!
If I think I have strength or wealth in myself, I look to myself and not to God. But if I know that I am poor in spirit, I’m not surprised by my neediness.
It’s the same as saying, When I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:10).
In this poverty, I know that without enjoying this glorious love relationship with Father, Son, & Holy Spirit, I’ll never be good enough.
Therein, I stop being surprised when I find myself needy of Him, and I stop looking to myself for all the answers.
I throw out all my “strength” to get all of God’s!
I give God my sick and exhausted lifestyle and Jesus gives me a life of rest and success.
I give Him my jalopy and He gives me a Mercedes.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3).
God just loves to bless us! In these scriptures, He is showing us the key to blessing, and it is simply coming before Him and asking.
You won’t ask if you don’t believe you need…
…and if you think you can do it all by yourself without asking God to carry you, then you don’t realize your need is constant.
Of course, there is action on our part, but this action flows out of the grace that only comes through a humble, receiving heart.
People who say “God helps those who help themselves” tend to overcorrect in this regard.
God’s grace energizes and ignites you to do whatever work to which He’s called you.
The key to unmatched blessing is simply coming to the end of our self-striving and meeting God with a humble, trusting, expectant heart.
…and in that sort of poverty, I’m overwhelmed with blessing.
Steeped in unearned blessings, I erupt with praise.
My praise becomes like breathing.
My worshipful behavior overflows into preaching the Good News wherever I go…into joy even in the midst of trouble…into scandalous righteousness even in the face of adversity and injustice.
Paul must have behaved outrageously to have to explain:
“If we are ‘out of our mind,’ as some say, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you” (2 Corithians 5:13).
And this is delirious: when you find one pearl of great price, sell all that you have. ALL!
Because it’s worth more.
A little prophecy
There will be shakings to our paradigms. Grand shakings!
And these are sending us deeper into knowledge of Him, unceasing Practice of His Presence, causing us to behave in ways that confound the wise and bear fruit for the Kingdom.
Be deliriously thrust into ceaseless prayer and worship, which is the fruit of “poverty of Spirit,” and step into the greatest wealth of all time.
Supreme Wealth
Matthew 10:17-31 tells the story of a rich young man who asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
The young man promised he’d kept all the Law, saying,
“‘Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.’ Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, ‘One thing you lack…’”
And to get what he lacked, Jesus said, sell all you possess. This is not a prescription about having “things.” That word translated “possess” is echó, which means “hold, cling to.” Get rid of anything you echó, “then come, follow me” (v21).
Of course, no wealth can keep me from Him unless I cling to it.
What do you cling to?
Some that come to mind…
…impressing the neighbors…
…looking good…
…maintaining a reputation…
…having the best car, house, job, bank account…the smartest kids…the most prestigious education.
No doubt, these are all forms of wealth. None are inherently good or evil.
It is clinging to these that causes you to worship them (“idolatry”)…and that is deeply harmful to you.
Money will put food on the table but is no help in reconciling with your children.
Having a great fitness regimen and eating healthy is so vital and important for honoring God with your body and fulfilling your life’s purpose…but it does nothing to ensure healthy family relationships, feeding the poor, helping the needy, being a good wife, husband, daughter, etc.
All that to say…none of these can rightly be the center of your life…and that which is central…that which you most believe in as your “salvation”…is that which you worship.
Only when Father, Son, & Spirit occupy that space in your heart are you truly wealthy.
Then, even if tragedy strikes and you suffer loss, you have God’s promise to stand on…that you will be restored.
Read the book of Job (pronounced “jobe”).
Job had it all, lost it all, still worshipped God without turning, and when he was healed God blessed him with more than he had before.
God only challenges us to lose what we cling to in order to set us free.
Thus, God has shown that my strength is weakness; weakness, strength; and depravity, power.
Father, dissolve the “paradox” and give us wisdom and revelation concerning this. Amen.
What does “wealth” mean to you? Talk about it in the comments box, and don’t forget to like & share before you go!