CHRIST BECAME POOR SO THAT WE MIGHT BECOME RICH

PROCLAMATION

“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.”  2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  In order to help the generous believers in Macedonia, who are undergoing a severe trial, Paul is requesting a generous gift from the believers in Corinth. (2 Corinthians 8:1-3)  Since the believers in Corinth excelled in everything, including faith, speech, knowledge, earnestness, and love, Paul is asking them to excel in the grace of giving. (2 Corinthians 8:7)  He reminded them that The Lord Jesus, The Christ, was rich but became poor for their sake, so that they through His poverty might become rich.  Paul encouraged them to match their willingness to help with following through and actually helping by giving according to their means. (2 Corinthians 8:11-12)  He urged them to share so that none of the believers would do without.  Then he quoted from the Old Testament scriptures (Exodus 16:18) to support his request. (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)  He ended by saying that he was sending Titus to them to collect the offering from them. (2 Corinthians 8:22-24)

 

APPLICATION

The Bible teaches us that we should help those who are in need.  Those of us who have should share with those who have not.  It is better to give than to receive. (Amos 20:35)  When we help those who are in need, we are actually lending to The Lord and He will repay us for helping them. (Proverbs 19:17)  When we are generous and provide a blessing to others, we will also be blessed. (Proverbs 11:25)  Remember what Christ did for us.  He left the splendor of heaven, put on human flesh, became poor, was rejected, was crucified, died, was buried, and rose from the dead for us.

 

BUT SUCH AS I HAVE I GIVE

PROCLAMATION

“Then Peter said, ‘Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk’”  Acts 3:6 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After the day of Pentecost, receiving The Holy Spirit, (Acts 2:1-4) and preaching to the crowd, (Acts 2:14-41) Peter and John went to the temple.  There was a man outside the gate, who was lame from birth, begging for money. (Acts 3:1-3)  Peter said to him, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have I give thee …” (KJV)  The man jumped to his feet, began to walk, and went into the temple with them and praised God. (Acts 3:8)  The people in the temple recognized the man and came running to Peter and John.  Then Peter admonished them and told them that this was done by the power of Jesus, The Christ, whom they had handed over to Pilate to be crucified. (Acts 3:12-13)  Peter also said that they disowned Christ before Pilate and asked for the release of a murderer when Pilate wanted to let Him go. (Acts 3:14-23)

 

APPLICATION

There are plenty of people today begging for money.  There are also plenty of them who would appreciate something to eat or some warm clothing.  We who have been blessed with a lot should share with those who are less fortunate.  We have clothes that just hang in our closets, which someone else could make good use of.  We also have shoes in our closets that we do not wear which someone else could use.  If you don’t want to give them money, you could pay for their meal.  Donate something to a shelter.  Such as we have, we should give to the less fortunate.  We are blessed by The Lord God in order to be a blessing to others.  He that blesses others shall himself also be blessed. (Proverbs 11:25)

 

AS WE SOW SO SHALL WE ALSO REAP

Proclamation:

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  Here Paul is continuing the topic he began in the previous chapter, requesting a generous gift from the believers in Corinth to help the believers in Macedonia. (2 Corinthians 9:1-5)  He tells them that they will be rewarded in the same manner as they give.  He tells them that God will bless them abundantly and that for helping the poor, their righteousness will endure forever. (2 Corinthians 9:8-9)  He also says that God will increase what they have and enrich them in every way so that they can continue to be generous in the future. (2 Corinthians 9:10-11)

Application:

As believers, we are encouraged to give to and help the less fortunate.  The Bible says we will be blessed for doing so. (Proverbs 22:9)  Paul quotes The Old Testament when he says, “They have scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” (Psalm 112:9)  Jesus said that as we treat the least of His people, He will take it as if we have done it to Him. (Matthew 25:35-45)  Jesus also said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)  If you want more, try giving more of what it is that you want.  That applies to smiles, love, and money.  Because as we give, so shall we receive. (Luke 6:38)  Remember, when a seed is planted, and it grows, it does not just bring forth one seed but it produces many seeds, sometimes thirty, sixty, or even a hundred seeds. (Matthew 13:8 and 13:23)  Think about a kernel of corn, when it is planted it produces a plant with several ears of corn, each of which has more than sixty kernels of corn on them.  There are two very important points here.  First, we will only reap the same thing that we sowed.  Secondly, we get back more of what we sowed than we gave out.  The Lord God can bless us abundantly with all that we need and even with more than we need. (2 Corinthians 9:8)

THE LORD WILL REPAY US FOR WHAT WE GIVE TO THE POOR

Proclamation:

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto The Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.” Proverbs 19:17 (KJV)  “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to The Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.” (NIV)  “One who is gracious to a poor man lends to The Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed. (NASB)

Explanation:

This proverb was written by King Solomon under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Here he states that a kindness shown to the poor, or whatever is given to the poor, is considered by The Lord God as being loaned to Him and He will repay the debt.  Remember, that though He was rich, Jesus, The Christ, left heaven and became poor for our sakes, so that we through His poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)  Jesus said that He regards all that is done to and for the poor brethren as though it was done to Him. (Matthew 25:40)

Application:

Each of us encounters at least one poor person daily who is in need of assistance.  All too often we pass that person by without helping them.  This verse reminds us that Jesus regards this as our treatment of Him.  “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me … whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:35-40)  We need to be very careful how we treat to poor people that we encounter as we go about our daily activities.  We were blessed in order to be a blessing to others.  Most of us have more than enough and could share a little with the poor.  “Give, and it will be given to you.” (Luke 6:38)  Remember The Bible story about the rich man and the beggar. (Luke 16:19-31)  One day we believers will all have to give an account of our stewardship.

GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU

Proclamation:

“Give, and it will be given to you … For the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke during His Sermon on The Mount as recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Jesus told them that as they gave to others, it would be given to them the same way.  They would receive a good measure, “… pressed down, shaken together and running over …”  A heaping measure, as much as the measuring cup could hold, would be given to them if they were equally generous to the indigent people in need.  If they were not generous with others, then The Lord God would not be generous with them.

Application:

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)  It is good to be blessed, but it is even better to be a blessing to others.  Giving someone money is not the only way that we can bless them.  As the saying goes, giving a hungry man some food is a blessing to him, but teaching him how to fish and cook it can bless him for the rest of his life.  If you want to receive more blessings, try giving more blessings to others.  Be a blessing to someone and you will receive a blessing.  All that we have received was not meant for us to keep for ourselves, some of it was for us to share with others.  Remember what The Bible says about the rich man and Lazarus, the beggar who sat outside of the rich man’s gate. (Luke 16:19-31)  Apart from our money, most of us place too much importance upon our words.  We think that what we have to say is a blessing to those that hear it.  While it is possible to bless someone by what we say, what we do for them is usually much more of a blessing than what we say to them.  Our actions speak much louder than our words.  That which we have but are not using could be a blessing to others.  The time spent caring for others, visiting the sick or the incarcerated, could be a blessing to them.  The Apostle Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you.” (Acts 3:6)  However, if you do have silver or gold or money, it is okay to share that also.  When we give to the less fortunate, we are lending it to The Lord God, and He will repay us. (Proverbs 19:17)  "Give, and it shall be given unto you..." (Luke 6:38)

Be A Blessing To Others And Be Blessed

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."  Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)  The King James Version of The Holy Bible reads: "The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." (KJV)  

These are the words of King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live (2 Chronicles 1:10-12), written under the divine inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God to the people of God.  He told the people that, by God's blessing, generosity will be rewarded with an increase to the giver.

We are blessed in order to be a blessing to others.  The blessings which we receive are meant to be shared with others.  Remember what Jesus said to His disciples about a certain rich man and the beggar named Lazarus. (Luke 16:19-31)  The Lord God blesses the generous.  Give, to help others, and it shall be given unto you. (Luke 6:38)  When we give to help the poor, we are actually lending to The Lord, and He will repay us. (Proverbs 19:17)  When we give, we will receive far more in return than we gave.