LITTLE HEAVEN
RICH & POOR
By Johnson Joseph
God had created every human being equally; it is the people who had distinguished among themselves as “rich” and “poor”. Just like God sends rain, sunshine, air equally, he loves everybody whether we are poor or rich. Romans 2:11.says “For there is no partiality with God.
Now if we become poor may be God wants to save our life, because He knows better than what we think, Please go to Chapter Luke 15:11 to 21 it’s a story about a prodigal son who asked share from the property and his father gave the share and the son spend all the money not in a right manner and he suffered afterwards (please read the story). 1 Timothy 6:10 says “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Some parents, I have seen they give lot of money to their children, Praise God for it, but are your children spending rightly? Please keep a check on them, may be you don’t have time to share your love, since, many of them are working and you want to express your love by giving money and the children spend this money with friends in hotels by smoking or drinking in bars or at internet centers. How many parents spend time with their children in prayers or teaching the word of God? They spend lot of time on Television, telephone, on weekend parties and picnic tours. A family that prays together stays together.
Coming back on the rich and poor subject we go to Deuteronomy 15:7 to 11 says “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, “ but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. “Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you. “You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. “For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.’ Job 36:15 says He delivers the poor in their affliction, and open their ears in oppression”. 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.”
Jesus did love the poor people and His disciples were poor fishermen. He also points us in Luke 21:34 about a poor widow “Truly I say to you this poor widow has put in more than all” “for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty has put in all the livelihood that she had” and it is difficult for Jesus to touch rich people but which ever rich people Jesus has touched they had done marvelous things, Luke 18:25 say, “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” The reason is very clear from Matthew 6:21 which says “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”
The Bible speaks of two rich people, please read the story from Luke 18:18 onwards “Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery’, Do not steal,’ Do not bear false witness,’ Honor your father and your mother.’ And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, you lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. But when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!!! Whereas in Luke 19:1 to 10 it’s the same situation just like the rich man of Luke 18:18 but here Zacchaeus also was seeking God, read the story. Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house".
Both the rich men had opportunities to enter the kingdom of God, Zacchaeus opened his heart and he was saved and his life was transformed immediately. God knows each and every person because He searches the hearts and minds of the people. Always there is option before us it is we who has to decide about our future. So what I want to ask you if Jesus would have been presently with us on the earth and He says to us please give all your wealth among the poor and come and follow Me? How many would do that my dear people? Matthew 6:33 clearly says “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”. Gods motto is very clear to His children and it says you have to seek Me and be in My fellowship, each and every moment of our life with God. Just like Parents taking care of their young one’s, I will be their God and when My children seek Me, I will meet their day to day needs. Proverbs 10:22 says “The blessings of the LORD makes one rich. And He adds no sorrows with it”. 2 Cor. 9:7 “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Now I will take you to Acts 4:32 to 35 and Acts 5:1 to 11 “Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked: for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, And laid them at the apostles’ feet and they distributed to each as anyone had need. But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? “While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you ” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things”.
Everyone should give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you. Acts 20:35 say “I have shown you in every way by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, “It is more blessed to giver then to receive”. So do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. And dear people in Christ, do not grow weary in doing good and please note that all your charitable deed may be in secret: and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. And you are accountable to God of every penny you spend because it is from God where our every resource comes.
Please turn with me to Luke 16:19 to 26 the story goes on “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and lived lavishly every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate,” desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. “So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. “And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ “But Abraham said, “Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. “And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.”
So dear people in Christ while you live on earth the areas where the Lord has blessed you let that blessing be shared among people who lack those blessings. You know well, if you are blessed with more money please give to the Lord (like giving money to the church and to the growth of the church, give to the poor and orphanage, to the sick people, may be you can sponsor a orphanage, and if are blessed with a car try to pick up who are in need and drop them at their destination, may be it is far but please do it) and if you are faithful in small things God will give bigger things with more blessings. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal” “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven”.
Bible teaches in Luke 12:16 to 20 that a rich man yielded plenty (excess) of crops and he pulled down the existing barns and build greater (bigger) barns so that he could store the excess crops and he said to himself all my future life I will enjoy, but watch the key verse 20 . But God said to him, ‘You fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” People always have the tendency to store up for their future. 1 John 2: 15, 16 says Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; “For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father, but is of the world.” No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other. You cannot serve God and mammon”.
And finally my dear brother’s and sister’s in Christ whether we are poor or rich let us praise God for what we are let us say as Job said in chapter 1:21 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away: Blessed be the name of the LORD".
Praise God.
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