Redeemed from Poverty
Let’s look again at our foundation scripture:
Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
If you remember from Part One, the curse of the law is found in Deuteronomy 28. Here are some verses from that chapter regarding poverty:
Deuteronomy 28:29 And you shall grope at noonday, as a blind man gropes in darkness; you shall not prosper in your ways; you shall be only oppressed and plundered continually, and no one shall save you.
Deuteronomy 28:43-44 The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower.
44 He shall lend to you, but you shall not lend to him; he shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.
Deuteronomy 28:47-48 “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything,
48 therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you.
Remember everything listed in the curse, we are redeemed from. So how did Jesus redeem us from the curse of poverty?
2 Corinthians 8:9 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.
This again is redemptive language – Jesus took on/suffered/bore this, that we might receive that.
“But 2 Cor 8 is talking about spiritual riches, not material riches”. Is it? One way to get a proper interpretation of a scripture is to read the context that the verse is in. In 2 Corinthians 8 and 9 Paul is talking about taking up a relief offering for the saints in Jerusalem – he is definitely talking about money.
Let’s get some religious ideas out of the way. Jesus and His family were not “poverty stricken” throughout His life. Jesus’ stepfather Joseph was a working man, a carpenter. They owned a donkey. But they were not wealthy either; they made the less expensive offering (two turtledoves) for Mary’s purification after Jesus’ birth. But remember they were still newlyweds at the time. How many of you remember how much you had when you first got married (with your place decorated in “early newlywed” style)?
Jesus followed in Joseph’s footsteps and learned the carpenter’s trade. When Joseph died (the Bible does not say when that happened, the last time he is mentioned was when Jesus was 12 years old) Jesus became the head of the household. Jesus had four brothers and at least two sisters, plus His mother Mary and Himself. That is a lot of mouths to feed. So Jesus knew what it was to work for a living, and there were probably times when business was a bit slow and they didn’t eat as well as other times – remember He was tempted in all things as we are.
Yet was He ever poor? No. He had promises like (Psalm 37:25) “I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread.”
“But what about ‘Foxes have their holes, and birds have their nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”? Jesus was not homeless, He was speaking of His lack of privacy. Whenever He went into a town or city, He was thronged. So they ended up camping out a lot.
Jn 1:38-39 Jesus had a place He was staying in Capernaum. It might not have been a home He owned, but He definitely ohhad a roof over His head. If He knew He was going out into a traveling ministry, it wouldn’t make sense to own a home anyway.
“But Jesus was so poor He didn’t have money to pay His taxes.” Where did you get that idea? Jesus didn’t carry the money on Him, they had a treasurer, Judas. He could easily have gone to Judas and asked for money out of the money box to pay the tax. But instead He used it as an opportunity to teach a lesson in God’s provision and told Peter to go fishing. And He paid His taxes and Peter’s.
Speaking of Judas and the moneybox, John 12:4-6 says that Judas used to pilfer out of it. If Jesus had no money, if the money box was near empty, then anything taken out would surely be missed. But if they were plenty in it, then Judas could feel that taking a bit out wouldn’t be noticed.
Jesus’ ministry supported 13 men full time. The Bible speaks of wealthy women that supported His ministry.
At two points in His ministry Jesus fed over 5000 people. Could you do that?
In heaven, Jesus was wealthy beyond any earthly comparison – but He laid all that aside. He knew what it was like to work for a living, to believe God for His next meal. But on the cross He lost everything – right down to the clothes on His back. But He aint po’ no mo’!
2 Corinthians 8:9 says that Jesus became poor that we might become rich. People have an issue with that word. The Biblical definition of “rich” means having a full supply. That is enough to meet your own needs, with a surplus so you can bless others also. Jesus did not carry around large amounts of cash, but He was able to meet people’s needs anywhere, anytime.
The definition of “rich” varies depending on what part of the world you are in. America is one of the only nations of the world where obesity is a large problem among the “poor”. Not to discount people’s lack, but people who live an average lifestyle in America are considered wealthy in other parts of the world.
Supplying All Your Needs
Phillipians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
God’s provision is dependent on heaven’s economy, not the earth’s. Heaven is not subject to inflation of shortages or recessions. The “Bank of Heaven” (if I can use that term) operates on the basis of fulfilling needs, not on cash flow.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.
All material blessings start out in the spiritual realm. The supply for our needs are on deposit in the “Bank of Heaven” until we need them. Then it takes faith to make a withdrawal. And we don’t have to twist God’s arm to get it out.
Luke 12:22-32 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.
23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?
25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?
27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
29 And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.
30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.
31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
The world spends all its time seeking to have their needs and wants met. God’s way is to seek first His kingdom, and He’ll see to it that you have what you need.
The Abundance
God does not want us to stop at only having our needs met. That is actually selfish! If all the Christians had only their own needs met, who would give to the poor? Who would finance the gospel?
Here is the scripture that I believe lays out God’s will for us concerning finances.
2 Corinthians 9:8 AMP And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance so that you always and in all circumstances and whatever the need, be self-sufficient – possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation.
Being self sufficient – with an abundance for every charitable donation.
God does not require us to give what we don’t have (i.e., “sacrificial giving”), but He is pleased when we do it out of a sincere and loving heart.
2 Corinthians 8:12 For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.
As Christians we are required to provide for our families or else we are “worse than infidels” (1 Timothy 5:8).
God’s Desire for Us is Prosperity
Deuteronomy 8:17-18 ….then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
18 And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
The power to gain wealth in order to establish His covenant. Which covenant? The Abrahamic covenant. Remember why we were redeemed? That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
Notice that we prosper and are in health just as (KJV even as, to the extent as) our soul prospers. This is why we need to focus on the kingdom first.
Psalms 35:27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, Who favor my righteous cause; And let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
The Proper Attitude
God has nothing against material wealth. Most of the godly men of the Old Testament were wealthy. Has He changed His mind in the New Testament? No, it’s just people’s religious thinking that God is against money.
God is concerned with attitude and character, not dollars.
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 AMP [Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone] will also reap generously and with blessings.
7 Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].
8 And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
9 As it is written, He [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; He gives to the poor; His deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!
10 And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness [which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity].
Be a cheerful giver! God will supply seed for you to sow, so that you can get the cycle of giving rolling.
“But didn’t Jesus tell the rich young ruler to sell everything he had and give it to the poor?”
Yes He did. But look at the whole story, it’s in Mark 10. The wealthy young man came to Jesus and asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus told him about the commandments, which he said he had kept since he was a little boy.
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
Jesus loved him. The young man was sincere. But Jesus knew there was one thing that hung on to him – his money. But did you catch what else Jesus did? He asked him to follow Him! He invited him to become a disciple! Maybe not one of the twelve, but at least one of the larger group of 70 that followed Jesus.
That instruction was specifically for that rich young ruler, not for every wealthy person.
So what are rich people to do? What attitude should they have?
1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17-19 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
So we start with a warning. The word desire here means to crave. It’s someone that is putting huge effort into the pursuit of riches.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 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.
18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share,
19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
Do not crave to be rich – remember we are to seek first His kingdom. Vs. 10 is often misquoted as “…money is the root of all evil”. Money is not good or evil, it is neutral. It is how it is obtained, and how it is used, that can be good or evil.
You can be guilty of loving money while not having a dime. Money gives the power to amplify your influence for what is inside you – for good or evil. People who “love” money do all sorts of evil things to obtain it. Or at the very least, they focus all their energies on obtaining it. I enjoy money and what it can bring, but there are many many things I put above it as a higher priority.
The passage above tells what people who have wealth should do – be generous with it. If you have extra, share with someone who has a need.
The Practical
God is not a counterfeiter, so He is not going to rain $100 bills on you from heaven or have them start growing on a tree in the backyard. The money you need is already here on the earth.
- He could have money come in from unexpected sources
- He can move on people to give to you
- He can get you deals and bargains on things you need.
- He can use what you already do to prosper so you get promotions and raises, more clients, a better paying job, etc
- He can prosper what you have so you don’t waste money on fixing things that break down
- He can lead you to make wise investments or business deals that pay off
Note the first two are sources where you are passive – i.e., you don’t have to do anything, the blessing just comes on you. And God does supply through those means.
But more often He is going to supply through the latter means, which involve you doing something. And to really get in on the big deals that will result in the big blessings, you’re going to have to be led by the Holy Spirit. The leading of the Holy Spirit is your greatest asset.
In the wilderness God supplied for Israel by miracles – the manna, water out of the rock, the clothes they had didn’t wear out, etc. But it was just enough, and not much variety.
God’s will for them was for Israel to make it into the promised land, not where they would exist from miracle to miracle, but where He would bless the works of their hands.
- Egypt was the Land of Not Enough (slavery)
- The Wilderness was the Land of Just Enough (living miracle to miracle)
- The Promised Land was the Land of More Than Enough (Israel produced their own harvests)
