“Jesus became poor”. That’s an amazing truth that is often overlooked. As part of the curse of the law, our enemy determined to leave us broken, and make us broke.
BUT, our God is purposeful. He has never done anything without purpose. The crucifixion separated us from our brokenness. It is written in Psalm 107:20, a verse that sums up the results of Jesus’ whipping post and the crucifixion, that “He sent forth His Word and healed them and delivered them from all their destruction.”
There’s not many of us who can say we’ve not experienced “poor” at some point. I’m not talking about our finances vs the finances of those in third world countries whose wealth is their one goat. I’m talking about me. Talking about my life’s experience and how it relates, or doesn’t, to the promises found in the Bible.
I’m talking as an American by birth and a person who lived outside of financial wealth by ignorance…and bad choices…and a mindset that “everyone I know struggles in some area”…and sometimes just circumstances that I didn’t see coming and hadn’t prepared for.
Then one day while reading 1 Corinthians Chapter 11 regarding what we call the Lord’s supper, the message of the Holy Spirit spoken by Paul brought a question to my mind. ‘If people are sick and weak because they don’t “esteem” (value, regard) the broken body of Jesus for their healing, is it possible people are financially weak because we have not “esteemed” poverty as part of the curse. and He has redeemed me from sin, the curse, AND poverty?’
I cannot dispute the Word of God that says “the Lord delights in the prosperity of His people” or any of the myriad of other promises of God, and if I never experience so much wealth that I have to hire people to give it away, that cannot change the Word of God, that He has stored up money to give to me.
If the Word of God can change in one area, where is my assurance that it won’t change in the area of my eternal salvation? Either God’s Word is all true, or I can’t fearlessly believe any of it is Truth. I choose the undeniable, unchanging Word of God over what has been my personal experience when it comes to determining Truth.
So I asked Him, I asked God Himself, to talk to me about financial prosperity. “Is it undeniable truth that I’m supposed to have wealth, that You are pleased when I’m wealthy (and conversely, not pleased with Your child living less than?)” And then these thoughts came. Reasons God’s Word says there is a purpose for my financial prosperity, and why God is pleased when His children have wealth.
(He said there is wealth stored up for us, but when we don’t realize that wealth is already part of our new birth, when we say it cannot be, because we aren’t experiencing it, we are not valuing His truth above our experiences.)
God wants us with plenty because:
Every loving parent wants the best for their children. God loves us.
Poverty steals God’s plans from our lives. If we can’t pay for “it”, we can’t walk in it. This could be education, travel, missions, anything God has planned for us.
Being broke prevents us from helping others who are unable to meet their own needs. We can’t give away what we don’t have.
The Word says that our giving will cause others to give thanks to God. (Because when you pay someone’s rent while telling them Jesus loves them, He will get their gratitude, and even if He does not, it’s not God’s heart to see children do without food or housing or warm clothes.)
God’s desire is for all people to be with Him throughout eternity. It is God’s goodness that brings people to a place of changing the way they think about Him. Preaching the goodness of God costs money. If I don’t have money, I cannot help ministries that teach God’s word. Part of His purpose for my prosperity is to give to the presentation (and preservation) of the Gospel for this generation.
There are so many other reasons God needs His children to be wealthy. With hearts turned to our Father’s goals, what might be the number one reason God needs His children wealthy?
God doesn’t have a wallet. That’s why He wants to fill mine. Because God said He gave us Jesus and with Him, God will give us richly all things to enjoy.
For His Glory 