Want of money was a thing he never experienced and never understood. He had been broke often, but he had never been poor.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Good Old Boys)
“There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.”
–Proverbs 13:7 (NKJV)
————————————
“For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
–John 12:8 (NKJV)
“So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury.'”
–Mark 12:43(NKJV)
“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.”
–2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV)
Poverty is not a lack of money! In my experience with life, with people, with students I have seen many times the statement by Jesus in John put to use. It is very apparent in our society today. Foolishness abounds, folly is rampant! In my study of Psalm 119, two things that are apparent: the seeking of knowledge and obedience.
I came across a very good piece of information written by a friend of mine, Anne Landry. She does a good job of briefly explaining poverty.
1) Academic poverty — you can’t learn if you can’t be disciplined.
2) Emotional poverty — you feel useless, unwanted, and you have unwarranted anger.
3) Mental poverty — you allow the mind to become lazy and unaware of its surroundings thereby giving way to inability to think, recall and to focus.
4) Social poverty — you become a complainer, an agitator causing the loss of respect and friendships. You also begin to blame others for your difficulty.
5) Spiritual poverty — you forget to allow God to give you what you as a child need in your life at this time. Believing God for what you need is not just for adults. God loves you and wants what is best for you. He wants you to have joy and peace.
Sometimes I just have to shake my head when I see the antics of those around. Look at the stupidity of the nonsensical talk regarding gender. Think of the time wasted in Congress over hearings regarding the finding of aliens. Oh, and the money wasted; they call it pork-barrel spending.
Paul understood what wealth, true wealth was. He wrote to the Philippians, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:” (4:11). Then again to Timothy, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6, NKJV) Rich, poor, in-between, contentment is what Paul learned. If all you have is beans to eat, be content. Contentment drives away the attitude of poverty. Some, who have enough, think they need more–that is a type of poverty.
The man who gains the whole world, but loses his soul is a poor, wretched man indeed (Matthew 16:26). Jesus tells us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21, NKJV) Real treasure, as well as poverty begins with the heart. What is wealth anyway? Paul declares that because Jesus came to us in our poverty (spiritual) we became rich when we accepted Him.
Sometimes, no, many times, my patience is pushed to the edge by those of foolish minds, by the “poor” who walk among us. When I look at the foolishness presented by the media, I want first to show anger, then to cry, then pity comes forth, but then I see the realization of the truth of God’s Word. Our riches and wealth are in Christ Jesus. In Him, I have all I need.
————————————
“For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.”
–John 12:8 (NKJV)
“So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury.'”
–Mark 12:43(NKJV)
“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.”
–2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV)
Poverty is not a lack of money! In my experience with life, with people, with students I have seen many times the statement by Jesus in John put to use. It is very apparent in our society today. Foolishness abounds, folly is rampant! In my study of Psalm 119, two things that are apparent: the seeking of knowledge and obedience.
I came across a very good piece of information written by a friend of mine, Anne Landry. She does a good job of briefly explaining poverty.
1) Academic poverty — you can’t learn if you can’t be disciplined.
2) Emotional poverty — you feel useless, unwanted, and you have unwarranted anger.
3) Mental poverty — you allow the mind to become lazy and unaware of its surroundings thereby giving way to inability to think, recall and to focus.
4) Social poverty — you become a complainer, an agitator causing the loss of respect and friendships. You also begin to blame others for your difficulty.
5) Spiritual poverty — you forget to allow God to give you what you as a child need in your life at this time. Believing God for what you need is not just for adults. God loves you and wants what is best for you. He wants you to have joy and peace.
Sometimes I just have to shake my head when I see the antics of those around. Look at the stupidity of the nonsensical talk regarding gender. Think of the time wasted in Congress over hearings regarding the finding of aliens. Oh, and the money wasted; they call it pork-barrel spending.
Paul understood what wealth, true wealth was. He wrote to the Philippians, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:” (4:11). Then again to Timothy, “Now godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6, NKJV) Rich, poor, in-between, contentment is what Paul learned. If all you have is beans to eat, be content. Contentment drives away the attitude of poverty. Some, who have enough, think they need more–that is a type of poverty.
The man who gains the whole world, but loses his soul is a poor, wretched man indeed (Matthew 16:26). Jesus tells us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21, NKJV) Real treasure, as well as poverty begins with the heart. What is wealth anyway? Paul declares that because Jesus came to us in our poverty (spiritual) we became rich when we accepted Him.
Sometimes, no, many times, my patience is pushed to the edge by those of foolish minds, by the “poor” who walk among us. When I look at the foolishness presented by the media, I want first to show anger, then to cry, then pity comes forth, but then I see the realization of the truth of God’s Word. Our riches and wealth are in Christ Jesus. In Him, I have all I need.