0892. Sharing His Poverty

Sharing His Poverty

"That ye through His poverty might be rich" (2Co_8:9).

It is delightsome to study how we inherit all riches in Jesus Christ. But we should remember that we, who are made rich in Him, are asked to follow Him through the pathway of His humiliation, before we share the glory of His exaltation.

Such a pathway for us will by no means bring to us the salvation of our souls. We are saved by grace not of works.

Such a pathway for us by no means suggests that we may at all suffer a Calvary death as He suffered.

However, in all of our Lord's poverty there is a call long and loud for a real and vital fellowship. Let us suggest some steps we can take with our Lord in His poverty.

1. We can go outside the camp with Him and bear His reproach (see Heb_13:13).

2. We can leave our all and follow Him (see Mat_19:27).

3. We can know the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death (see Php_3:10).

4. We can suffer with Him (see 2Ti_2:12).

5. We can willingly be called Beelzebub, even as He was called Beelzebub (see Mat_12:24).

6. We can follow Him in the steps of His humiliation (see 1Pe_2:21).

7. We can gladly suffer the despoiling of our goods (see Heb_10:34).

8. We can count all things but refuse to win Christ (see Php_3:8).

Who will heed the call? Are we not willing gladly to enter into His poverty.

Moses cast off the riches of Egypt. He threw overboard its pleasures. In all of this he saw Him Who is invisible. He had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

Demas, on the other hand, loved this present evil age. He forsook Paul. He chose to save his life from the suffering that loyalty to Christ would cause. He lost the "crown of righteousness."

"Take the world, but give me Jesus,

That dear One, Who loves me so,

Gladly all I leave to follow,

Through this evil world below."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR