THE POOR & THE RICH

"For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always." - Matt 26:11


No one really wants to be poor, and even the poor sometimes deny the fact that they are poor. They don't want to confess to the reality of their state - yet we cannot deny that the poor has not ceased from amongst us, even in the faith. The one who is poor would sometimes need the rich, and the rich must be available to ease the plight of the poor.


We live in a certain time where the poor are proud and also very arrogant, they are a container of anger and envy, they use it as a smokescreen for their unfortunate state - but being poor has no hiding place - it screams out even in the pocket, it shows in the attitude and of course the blind can sense it.

Being poor is relative, a person may be poor in different regards but the financial aspect is most thought about when the topic comes to mind. This piece is to draw our attention to the plight of those whose children daily walk barefoot to school, that child whose mannerism is bad because of lack of exposure - the poor will never cease and yes the rich too will always be available.


Sometimes being poor will become a necessity, no one likes it - yet not every 'poor' is a financial challenge - when a person is unfortunate, such is referred to as 'poor guy' - we must embrace the poor as a form of security and insurance of our wealth - don't close your eyes to the plight of the less privilege - we have the same God in common - He is the God of the rich and that of the poor. Their poor state also can change.


HELP THE POOR
"He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given." - Prov 19:17


The above scriptures is not referring to professional beggars, as some beggars may even be richer than the givers. The poor whose dire state stares at you everyday is the one you must hear. The man who may have resigned to fate and lacks faith of a better day, is the poor that you must not overlook...though he didn't admit it, but you must lend a helping hand.


A man who doesn't consider the disadvantaged, is himself poor, though the poor are difficult to help at times, yet we must help. We must continually lend unto the Lord and deeply care. Not as a form of burden, but giving willingly as unto the Lord.


Jesus is disguised as the poor, a helping hand to that destitute is a helping hand unto the Lord. There are genuine causes every where, just before you that saying that fraudsters abound. A disadvantaged person whether temporary or permanent is a disadvantaged person and nothing can change it for that hour, if you don't help. It is people that the Lord uses most times to bless others.


"For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your needy, in your land'" - Deut 15:11


No amount of prosperity message will erase the poor, no amount of prosperity will stop people from being in the class of the needy...everyone will not be rich, everyone would not be able to afford it all. Especially to those of the household of faith we must be good. Don't withhold that little which can bless.


Let it be clear to you who is privilege to lend a helping hand, that the poor may not always be grateful, they may not even recognise that you have done anything...but if you obey the commands of God - you are guaranteed of a blessing. You are actually lending to the Lord. The Lord depends on you for the welfare of the poor.


Who is the poor? Maybe you consider yourself poor also - but remember that a servant was owing his master is also that same servant who was been owed by another servant - the servant may have been a poor man to his master, but he also had the capacity to lend to his fellow servant. No matter how poor you are - there is a poorer than you. There is a needy around you.


POOR MAKING RICH
"as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things." - 2Cor 6:10


A teacher may not have everything, yet that poor teacher may be responsible for laying the foundation of the world's richest. Riches will not always be measured in money - sometimes the physically poor are responsible for the rich out there. The Christain must know that the absence of money may not necessarily mean poverty, as that cannot make a prince a slave. Sometimes, the depth we possess is the asset that will make many rich.


Your pastor may not have much, but he can be a factor to your blessings, a man may not have much, but in His mouth He possesses the secret of success - sometimes it is ironical that the poorest are the ones selling books on success. The poor can make rich.


Paul's explanation above was out of a surrender to a sacrificial life. He understood the formula for wealth, but would glory in his state as it avails his spiritual soul of depth. Let us not always think that the man who stayed in his call does not have a certificate - he may just be there serving the master and making many rich.


"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." - 2Cor 8:9


It is not God's will that you should be poor, get it right and don't be confused! Riches is relative, but we must also know that God is not glorified in wretchedness - not at all. Everyone must know that Christ came to make us rich. The riches that do not come with sin or sorrow.


This is not a contradiction, Paul's case was an attainting of a height, yet you must avail yourself of the grace that makes people rich - because it is a provision available. Don't think that it is God's will. It is God who teaches you to make profit, in fact the grace to make profit increased in Jesus. Tap into the grace of being established in righteousness.


The blessings of the Lord makes rich and adds no sorrow!


SPIRITUALLY POOR
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." - Matt 5:3


We are in a society where we want to always prove our spirituality to God, as if we can be more spiritual than the God who Himself is a Spirit. We approach His presence with so much arrogance covered in 'confidence' - we are sometimes so sure of ourselves and think we can be anything apart from Him. Your authority has limit when it comes to God. Stop acting as if God is your boy.


I am not against confidence and boldness, in fact it is needed, but when such confidence looks like that of Lucifer, then how art thou fallen, when it is never about even God but you then there is something wrong. We need this poverty of the spirit as Christians to really be productive on the platform.


I know you know who you are, and God expects that you should, but when you approach Him, do you know who He is? I know He is your Father - but when you approach Him in worship have you become careless. Listen, you can't prove a point to a God who created all things. It is in the simplicity that we approach Him, that He gives us honour when we rise. A broken spirit and a contrite heart, the Lord will not despise. Be broken when you approach Him.


"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God I thank You that I am not like other men - extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God be merciful to me a sinner!'" - Luke 18:11-13


When last did you acknowledge Him for the salvation of your soul, how much do you feel pardoned -"or are you like that Pharisee who is proud toward God. You go to Him and start praying saying 'Lord I know who I am, I am the best, I am that and all that' - what kind of sanctified pride is that one? You have come to believe you are infallible - you have come to think you can look God in the face!


Though He lavishes us with His grace and love, we must humbly receive it - though He gives us confidence, we must in the innermost of ourself know that - we are just mere mortals - O how David said, 'what is man that You are mindful', I don't know how we worship these days, but I know that when we worship and behold His glory - we are suppose to come out humble, broken. It is not everytime we should be 'forming' for God! - I pray you understand in context.


How I wish this spiritually poor people will never cease from the house of God, then His glory can fill us up to the brim. How I wish that someone will worship and see his or her 'nothingness' then bow the more. A bowed head in worship is actually a head raised in victory over the enemy. You need this spiritual poverty!


RICH BUT POOR
"So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." - Luke 12:21


Sometimes the richest of men are wretched before God! When a man regards riches as his security, then there is no insurance for his wealth. What is it that you own that you have regarded more than God? Though you say God is your life, but you also know that if your ship on the sea capsizes, it will take your life - then, consider yourself poor.


What kind of riches do you have that is not making you sleep? What sort of riches do you possess that has also possessed you? Sir, the blessings of the Lord is not suppose to be for torment - why are you restless? When you know that eternal life is not guaranteed, why are you gaining the whole world. O thou miserable 'big' man - your money has not secured you eternal life - you are wretched. Actually, it is important for us to begin to ring it into the ears of those who have made money their gods, that, before God they are nothing.


When last did you make a kingdom investment, or are you one of those hypocrites who wouldn't give except it is announced? O poor you, because you have not laid up any treasure for yourself in heaven - you are just a 'money miss road'. Any establishment not founded in righteousness as the scriptures tells us, is actually an investment on sinking sand.


"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." - 2Tim 6:17


Those who are rich and proud will find it hard to enter the kingdom of heaven, they are the fan of 'money answers all things', even in the church - but please know this, your money cannot save you. Your wealth without Christ is useless. I know some who think that, flaunting the wealth in church is a prove that God is good.


You are rich and it is good, but you are also proud and too cold spiritually which is bad! You have trusted in uncertain riches and you have lost your heavenly reward. Wouldn't you learn from brother Job, who wouldn't care - because he understood that the Lord gives and the Lord takes. Don't kill yourself.


The way some people labour for riches will make you understand that it is not in labour, don't miss eternity for riches - the whole world's wealth cannot compensate for the heavenly bliss. Insure your riches in Christ. When the rich short Zacchaeus found Christ, his wealth weren't anything to him anymore. He traded it all because He knew that he was poor all along.


Don't be broke towards God...that one is more painful.


CONCLUSION: Help the poor, don't be poor, remain poor in the spirit and be rich towards God!


God bless you and I love you
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals