“Rich Dad, Rich Children – God gives riches and true riches are from Him.” This was what I initially titled this piece, until the Holy Spirit instructed otherwise through the above title He supplied.
First and foremost, it must be understood, that, the God, of whom, it is said “Heaven is His throne and earth His footstool” is a very rich God – look at His created world and be astounded at the depth of His riches: rich vegetation with its wide flora and fauna; variety of species of the animal kingdom; rich human races with every hue; rich universe – the stars, the galaxies etc – Haggai 2:8.
Whoever loves and serves God and desires to have a portion of God’s riches – God grants unreservedly. The patriarchs in the Bible: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, even Ishmael and buffeted Job were by every standard rich and wealthy persons (Genesis 24:34-36; 26:12-16, 27-28; 32:6; 33:9,15; 30: 41-43, Job 1:1-4; 42: 10, 12-17, Genesis 17:20; 21:13, 17-18; 25:12-18). They did not just have fat store houses or bank accounts, they created wealth for others.
The Bible talks about the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3), that is, being bereft of God’s love, righteousness and grace, in other words, the lack of God in one’s life. A man can be so rich, in terms of possessions and assets and yet poor, because he is poor in spirit; for example the “young rich fool” (Luke 12:16-20). A man can also be poor in spirit and be so poor materially; for example “Simon the leper (Matthew 26:6, Mark 1:40-45), and yet a man can be materially poor and be very rich in spirit; for example “Lazarus the beggar” (Luke 16:20-25).
Jesus came to give hope to the poor by making them rich in spirit and granting them material prosperity; that is, if they desire it and are willing to live by the principles of “making wealth God’s way’’- through a God given idea, vision, strength, discipline, diligence, transplanting or trans-location and of course grace (Genesis 31:6-13, Deuteronomy 11:8-15). Unfortunately, at the time Jesus walked the earth, the wealthy were unprecedentedly poor – poor in spirit; and the poor (materially deficient) were too poor – their total net worth was not worth more than that of a (church) rat. It was a case of double jeopardy.
If you are a child of God and Jesus were to make you rich, He would first of all address your spiritual poverty before attending to your material poverty (Matthew 6:33).
If God’s people were to remain poor (materially lacking and poverty stricken), the work of the Gospel proclamation and communication would be hindered – printing of tracts and Bibles, Bible translation, evangelical crusades, missionary journeys, church planting etc.
All these, need financial and materially resources. So, it is God’s will that Christians prosper and remain prosperous – that is, being rich in spiritual things first and material blessings following afterward.
That way the Gospel will expand faster and the kingdom of God will advance greater until ‘’the earth be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” - Habakkuk 2:14.
During Jesus’ earthly ministry, He tried to make the rich of the world de-emphasize placing their fate and hope in their wealth and material possessions. Money or material possessions won’t take you to heaven – but trust and hope in Jesus and His Father, Jehovah (Matthew 6:19-21, James 5:1-3).
This is why, Jesus said, it will be difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:21-24). A rich person should only recognize that God has privileged him or her to be a custodian of His riches; and God wants him or her to use the riches to be a blessing to others, the Church and his or her community. Anything other than such mindset is counterproductive and heaven denying (James 5:4-6).
A greater number of the poor and destitute in Nigeria and Africa are not just materially and financially incapacitated, but they are also poor in spirit; and this is really catastrophic and calamitous for the persons concerned.
The Gospel is primarily for such people (Luke 4:18a). Why, because the poor are a humbled people (through the instrumentality of adversity and sufferings) and thus are more willing or open to listen to the Gospel, which is a message of hope and light (James 2:5-7).
Unlike their rich and wealthy counterparts who are majorly proud, haughty, arrogant, unbelieving and unreceptive to God, His laws and messages (James 5:4-6).So, God makes rich, and true riches are from Him. His riches which are long lasting or enduring will come to you in His own ways and in His own terms (Proverbs 8:18, 20; 10:22).
Bro. Yusuf Rufa’i,
Is your Brother and Servant in the Lord
www.ambassadoryusufrufai.blogspot.com
www.redeemedpeople.blogspot.com
Email: yusufrufai2@gmail.com
Tel: +234 80 28 78 28 91
REDEEMED PEOPLE: OPERATION Proclaim! What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs - JESUS CHRIST (Mathew 10:27).
No comments:
Post a Comment