6 November | Youth
«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.» 2 Corinthians 8:9
Sometimes we are touched by stories of people who were poor and became rich. Financial success arouses curiosity and fascination because, in our society, money is a symbol of strength, influence and power. Rarely, however, do we find reports of people who, by their own decision, chose to become poor. Have you ever heard of a billionaire who gave away all his money and went to live in a slum? We cannot find a biography like that for sale in bookstores out there.
Today's verse states that Jesus was rich, but he became poor out of love for us. In what sense was Christ rich? Without doubt, in His Person, for He is eternal, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent (Isa 9:6). He is also rich in His possessions and His position. He is Creator and Owner of all things, as the psalmist says, “The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours; the world and all its fullness, You have founded them” (Ps 89:11).
However, despite all this wealth, He made Himself poor by taking on human form. The King of kings left His throne and came to live as a Servant among the fallen race (Phil 2:7). He did not come for a diplomatic visit, like a UN representative or an ambassador does. The rich Man lived among the poor. Jesus opened and notarized the signature at the registry office of the poor. He was not ashamed to get His feet dirty, eat our food and touch our skin. Christ could have crossed His arms in the face of human failure, but He decided to be one with us.
While on Earth, Jesus had no houses, gold, animals, or possessions. The only thing He had was a seamless robe, “woven from the top in one piece” (John 19:23), a symbol of His perfect righteousness. The Son of Man had nowhere to “lay his head” (Matt 8:20). In order to fulfill His mission, Jesus spent most of His ministry moving from one place to another, depending on the kindness of people to eat and sleep.
Because of His poverty, today we can experience the supreme richness of His grace. Do you desire this wealth? So, give yourself completely to Jesus, because you are heir to the King.