2 Corinthians 8:9 says, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE RICH? This Bible verse is not referring to money or possessions. When Jesus came to earth to be born as a simple, poor human being, He left the glorious riches of heaven. Jesus later said- “”Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Matt. 8:20) JESUS BECAME POOR for our sakes, so that we might become rich and have everlasting life and live with Him eternally.
In John 17:24, Jesus said – “’Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
JUST AS Abba Father loved Jesus, just so He loves us! That is WHY He came to be born among us, to live the kind of life we should live, to die the death we deserved to die, and to rise and live eternally like He desires for us.
Jesus is rich in love! Where does love come from? Before anything existed on earth, love flowed between Abba Father and Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ life is eternal, and His love is everlasting! In comparison to Jesus, our lives are poor indeed. When Jesus was born on earth, He knew the shortness of human life and productivity. He was very mindful of the fact that his time here would be very short – only 33 years, and only 3 years of public, full time ministry. He said in John 9:4 – “As long as it is day, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” We need to cultivate the same purpose.
Jesus lived with the motivating force to seek the lost and help those in need. He was NOT popular because He was outspoken, forthright and righteous. Isaiah 53:3 tells us that “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a Man of suffering, and familiar with pain/ grief. Like one from whom people hide their faces He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem.”
Jesus became poor! WHY DID JESUS BECOME POOR? It is the message for Christmas. He became poor SO THAT WE CAN BECOME RICH. His coming, His death, and His Resurrection were all about you (and me). The riches we shall receive one day will be Eternal Life and everlasting love – Love and life that will not let us go, but they will be the MOST rewarding riches we could ever ask for or find – rich, pure, everlasting love! He says to us in John 15:9 – ““As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” Friends, NOTHING can separate us from His love! Romans 8:38-39 states, “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus lived and died in poverty on earth, so that we might inherit the riches of heaven. Let us celebrate THAT this Christmas! It is only through His grace, which the leading verse tells us in 2 Corinthians 8:9 – ”For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” GRACE is a free Gift. It is wrapped up with YOUR name on it. “GRACE IS GOD’S RICHES AT CHRIST’S EXPENSE.” (Colin Smith) Grace is a gift like Jesus is our BEST Gift this Christmas. Let us receive it with deep gratitude for what He has done for us so that we can become rich in His Eternal Life and everlasting love.
Thank You so much precious Jesus, that You became poor so that we can inherit the wealth, peace and love in heaven which awaits us.
Myrtle Turunen