Rich in Christ

In speaking, my Grandpa was able to make a point without requiring many words.  Once in my late twenties, a cousin and I accompanied him for a visit to his cabin in the woods of northern California.  Were were eating pizza after fishing and I left a portion of the crust uneaten on my plate that was especially hard and dry.  He looked at the scrap of crust and asked with dead seriousness, "What, are you rich?"  He was of an era and mindset that good manners demands one eats everything on the plate, and to leave any bits behind was a claim to wealth, entitlement and superiority.  I felt justified to leave the crust because it was tough to swallow, but to escape the ire of a man I respected I powered it down.

Just today I came across an article which says how much money Australians need to have to consider themselves rich.  The article asserts, "...the average Australian must be earning a jawdropping $389,118 per year to feel rich."  That's a pretty specific number, and I have no idea how this amount was settled on--which is $50K more than last year.  In the eyes of those interviewed, it takes a lot of money to feel rich.  I strongly suspect should people make this amount of money annually, they may be surprised that the feeling of richness remains elusive.  Even more would be needed to secure that "I'm rich" feeling that remains out of reach.  The working definition I have for being rich is similar to my Grandpa's view:  the rich can afford to pay others to do for them what they don't feel like doing themselves.

I believe it is possible not only to feel rich but be rich with nothing of monetary value because of who Jesus Christ is for all who trust in Him.  The smallest blessing becomes an overwhelming bonus from our Father's hand.  Paul wrote to Christians in 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, "I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. ⁹ 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."  The richest person on the planet cannot compare with the richness of God who created and owns all things.  God has all power, wealth, authority and majesty, yet God became poor for our sakes in the Person of Jesus Christ so we might become rich.  This does not speak of our financial net worth but the enduring richness of a relationship with God, fellowship with God's people and being made citizens of God's everlasting kingdom.  Jesus taught where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.

The context of Paul's words to the Corinthian church were encouragement to make good on their word to contribute financially to the church in Jerusalem that was struggling.  Perhaps after agreeing to gather a contribution the Corinthian's reserves looked to be running low:  how would they fare if plunged into poverty?  Paul encouraged them to remember Jesus who became poor to enrich them beyond what money could buy, and God's sincere love prompts us to give to meet the needs of others generously.  God can use our financial situation and decisions to help us realise what we see as the true riches--making and saving money on earth or storing up treasure in heaven by faith and obedience to Jesus Christ?  Comparing ourselves to others makes us see how little we have and leads to envy and discontent, but by Christ becoming poor we have all things and abound (Phil. 4:18).  Rather than chasing the feeling of being rich, let us find contentment and rest in Christ who is our all in all.