Jesus Christ . . . became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
In a surprising headline in 2010, Austrian
millionaire Karl Rabeder announced that he was selling all of his
properties and businesses. At age forty-seven, he had become convinced
that he needed to stop what he was doing and begin his real life. His
goal was to “have nothing left, absolutely nothing.” So he set up an
organization to help people in developing countries and transferred all
his money to its accounts. Rabeder, a rich man, made himself poor in
order to enrich the lives of the needy.
That’s not a bad image to consider today. Like Karl Rabeder, Jesus
emptied himself for us so that we could be filled with his spiritual
riches.
Jesus was seated with the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven. He
felt no need or shortage at all—only perfect harmony, love, majesty, and
holiness. Not only that, but at his word, glorious things came to be.
It’s hard to imagine any greater richness than that.
And yet as rich as he was, he gave it all up when he came to earth.
He was born in a stable to a poor carpenter and his wife. He spent his
childhood in simplicity, learning his father’s trade. He became a
wandering rabbi, traveling the countryside and healing the broken and
the sick. He spent sleepless nights in prayer and endless days
ministering to the needy. And in the end, when he most needed their
support, all his friends abandoned him, leaving him to die a shameful
death alone.
Why did he go through all of that? Simply to make you rich. He set
aside his glory so that he could give you unlimited forgiveness, access
to heaven, and the ability to know God in a personal way. Because of the
riches of his grace, you can walk with him and love other people as
fully as he did.
Why live like a pauper when Jesus has made you rich? Don’t be afraid
to ask him for more—more mercy, more forgiveness, more wisdom, more joy.
Jesus doesn’t want to see you living like you’re bankrupt. He gave
everything up to make you spiritually rich!
“Lord Jesus, thank you for your immense generosity. Help me accept all the riches you have offered me.”
from wau.org
