POOR YET RICH
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Verse for Today
2 Corinthians 6:10 - Sorrowful yet rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
The world has very unrealistic perspectives about God's children. When the world looks at them, they are always sorrowful, poor, lonely, impostors, hypocrites, unpopular, beaten up by everyone, forsaken by all and having no status or position in this world. They are considered by people who create riot wherever they go, even though they cause revival. They are talked about as people who turn this world upside down. This is the qualification earned by the children of God in this world. Of course, these are true from a worldly angle, because these Christians live contrary to the principles and practices of this world. So they become unpopular among their neighbours. They do not have worldly company and all they have are a few friends who are 'weird' people like them. They do not make money and live for the wealth of this world and so are often considered as poor and having nothing. The world does not consider Christians as smart and intelligent people. They often shed tears and are looked like sorrowful and have no enjoyment and entertainment in this world. They are forsaken by all and are always a minority, because they cannot go along with the majority in all that they do and live for.
Yet if the world only tries to know who these strange people are, they will be astonished. Even though they are sorrowful and brokenhearted, they have an inner joy which money or entertainment cannot buy. They sleep in peace even when there is turmoil around them. They are poor in terms of the possessions and positions in this world, yet they live as the children of the Great King and possess all that is there in Heaven as their inheritance. More over, they think that this earth is created by their Father and so they are the true owners. Even though they are lonely and few in numbers in this world, they are surrounded by a large cloud of witnesses all through the centuries and have with all the saints all through the world. Yes, this is the true characteristic of the child of God who lives in Heaven, and passes through this world for a short time. They do not desire any thing that this world provides, but demonstrate Heavenly resources and blessings while living in this world. This is the joy of Christian life. It is not a life of complaints, but contentment. It is a life of a worldly minority with a Heavenly majority. It is a life that rejoices in spite of circumstances. It is a life that praises God and rejoices in sufferings. It is a life that makes them poor in this world, but rich in Heaven. It is a life with no investment in this world, but great investments in Heaven. This life is a prelude to the great Heavenly orchestra which is to start soon. It is a life of the shadow of the Heavenly bliss which is to follow. The child of God is always looking forward to it, rather than searching for the mirages of discontent that this world offers. Thus a Christian life becomes a great advertisement for Heaven. It is a life to be lived in its fullness here and now and is the preparation for the eternal life which is on its way, as a continuation of this life. So let us today praise God for all the experiences that we are allowed to go through with joy and contentment and make a bright advertisement for Heaven.
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, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Thought for Today
It is exceedingly great to be poor and lonely in this world, yet at the same time live in the richness of Heaven.
Verse for Today
2 Corinthians 6:10 - Sorrowful yet rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
The world has very unrealistic perspectives about God's children. When the world looks at them, they are always sorrowful, poor, lonely, impostors, hypocrites, unpopular, beaten up by everyone, forsaken by all and having no status or position in this world. They are considered by people who create riot wherever they go, even though they cause revival. They are talked about as people who turn this world upside down. This is the qualification earned by the children of God in this world. Of course, these are true from a worldly angle, because these Christians live contrary to the principles and practices of this world. So they become unpopular among their neighbours. They do not have worldly company and all they have are a few friends who are 'weird' people like them. They do not make money and live for the wealth of this world and so are often considered as poor and having nothing. The world does not consider Christians as smart and intelligent people. They often shed tears and are looked like sorrowful and have no enjoyment and entertainment in this world. They are forsaken by all and are always a minority, because they cannot go along with the majority in all that they do and live for.
Yet if the world only tries to know who these strange people are, they will be astonished. Even though they are sorrowful and brokenhearted, they have an inner joy which money or entertainment cannot buy. They sleep in peace even when there is turmoil around them. They are poor in terms of the possessions and positions in this world, yet they live as the children of the Great King and possess all that is there in Heaven as their inheritance. More over, they think that this earth is created by their Father and so they are the true owners. Even though they are lonely and few in numbers in this world, they are surrounded by a large cloud of witnesses all through the centuries and have with all the saints all through the world. Yes, this is the true characteristic of the child of God who lives in Heaven, and passes through this world for a short time. They do not desire any thing that this world provides, but demonstrate Heavenly resources and blessings while living in this world. This is the joy of Christian life. It is not a life of complaints, but contentment. It is a life of a worldly minority with a Heavenly majority. It is a life that rejoices in spite of circumstances. It is a life that praises God and rejoices in sufferings. It is a life that makes them poor in this world, but rich in Heaven. It is a life with no investment in this world, but great investments in Heaven. This life is a prelude to the great Heavenly orchestra which is to start soon. It is a life of the shadow of the Heavenly bliss which is to follow. The child of God is always looking forward to it, rather than searching for the mirages of discontent that this world offers. Thus a Christian life becomes a great advertisement for Heaven. It is a life to be lived in its fullness here and now and is the preparation for the eternal life which is on its way, as a continuation of this life. So let us today praise God for all the experiences that we are allowed to go through with joy and contentment and make a bright advertisement for Heaven.
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, so that you through His poverty might become rich.
Thought for Today
It is exceedingly great to be poor and lonely in this world, yet at the same time live in the richness of Heaven.
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