The gift of the poor

14.01.2022

Friday January 14, 2022

You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ : for you he made himself poor when he was rich, so that by his poverty you might be enriched. 2 Corinthians 8:9

What can you get, what help can you expect from someone who is poor among the poor ? This is the reasoning of many Jews when they saw Jesus walking among them. What could be expected of this preacher who had no place to lay his head (Luke 9:58) ? A few women assisted him with their possessions (Luke 8:3). He accepted the hospitality offered to him, even invited himself sometimes (Luke 19:5). His disciples wore neither purse, nor bag, nor sandals (Luke 10:4) ; they had been caught eating ears of wheat because they were hungry (Luke 6:1) ; on another occasion, they had only found five loaves and two fish to offer to a crowd... Nothing can be expected of such a person. Such is human reasoning which judges according to appearances.

Yet what does the Word tell us ? Creator of the universe, possessing all things, Christ Jesus annihilated himself by taking the form of a man. He thus voluntarily enslaved himself to the limitations of human nature. He stooped still further until he was born in a stable and then lived among the lowly and despised of his people. What could he give ?

He had life left and this life he gave as a ransom for many, he gave it for his sheep that they might have life to the full (John 10:10-12). He consented to undergo the condemnation destined for the vilest criminals, those to whom justice inflicts a shameful torture, exposed to the insults and contempt of society. In a nutshell, he endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

And by the gift of his life, those who received him were enriched. Now children of God, blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), we glory in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:2). A poet said :

Yes, to enrich us...

You wanted to impoverish yourself...

Glory to the Son of the Most High !

Source (Pleasing the Lord)