For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. ''
Dear People of God, let us understand the revelation in the above Scriptures:
' He became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich ': Most of us presume from this Scripture, that God wants us to be to be rich, and wealthy in this world.
And that Jesus' poverty is to make us rich in material possessions and live a lavish life.
But dear people, Apostle Paul doesn't mean to say this!
Paul's writings, in his letters, contain some things that are hard to understand, as foretold by Peter :
'' 2 Peter 3:16 His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. ''
Apostle Peter has already foretold that people tend to misinterpret Paul's writings.
In these chapters of 2 Corinthians, if we read from the beginning of chapter 8, towards end of chater 9, we will understand that Apostle Paul is only speaking about being ''generous'', and sowing generously into God's Kingdom - the term ' rich ' is referred for being rich in this gift
Apostle Peter has already foretold that people tend to misinterpret Paul's writings.
In these chapters of 2 Corinthians, if we read from the beginning of chapter 8, towards end of chater 9, we will understand that Apostle Paul is only speaking about being ''generous'', and sowing generously into God's Kingdom - the term ' rich ' is referred for being rich in this gift
of '' Generosity ''.
Christ lived in poverty so that He can grant us redemption from all selfishness and set us free from idolatry called greed, and the Spirit of God, in Christ, grants us generosity, so that we give into the kingdom of God.
When we act in such generosity, we have Christ's righteousness in us - and this keeps us reconciled to God.
Now, when God increases our harvest, what would be God's purpose? Is it to make us wealthy or does he have a different purpose?
Lets read further :
'' 2 Corinthians 9:10,11 - Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every ocassion and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. ''
It's very important that we understand the revelation in each word Apostle Paul had spoken in these Scriptures.
Lets meditate on this as the Spirit of God helps us :
Paul referred the harvest as '' Harvest of righteousness,'' this means the seed that is sown must be seed of righteousness?
So what is seed of Righteousness? It is the Word of God, that is Christ. Agree ?
This seed in us produces the gift of the Spirit, which is ''Generosity.''
6. '' .....so that you can be generous on every ocassion '' = We are made rich in every way FOR ONE REASON as quoted by Paul. i.e., so that we may gladly keep giving generously into His kingdom...and the more we keep giving, the more God keeps increasing because of our righteousness in Christ.
Hence Paul has referred the below Scripture while he was illustrating the above :
'' 2 Corinthians 9:9 : As it is written : ''He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor ; his righteousness endures for ever. ''
2. Poor = Poor in heart, those hearts that are stuck by poverty in giving, or lack of willingness in giving.
Christ scattered His gifts to all of us - Through His poverty He scattered the gift of Generosity.
In Christ's righteousness, we can now become generous.
Hence Paul quotes in15th verse : '' Thanks be to God, for his indescribable gift ''
When Paul stated that Christ's poverty made us rich, he means Christ made us Rich in being Generous. Rich in giving towards God.
Please do not misunderstand this 'rich' as storing up and acquiring worldly riches for ourselves.
Generosity is a gift of the Spirit. Like we have many other gifts, eg : gift of prophesy, gift of administration, gift of speaking in tongues, gift of interpretation of tongues, etc.
Hence Paul referred this Scripture in chapter 9:
'' 2 Corinthians 9:9 :As it is written :
''He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor ;
his righteousness endures for ever. ''
In Christ's righteousness, by His grace, we are granted many gifts of the Spirit.
Just like through His stripes healing of sin in flesh flows to us, through His poverty, generosity flows.
Please do not misunderstand this 'rich' as storing up and acquiring worldly riches for ourselves.
Generosity is a gift of the Spirit. Like we have many other gifts, eg : gift of prophesy, gift of administration, gift of speaking in tongues, gift of interpretation of tongues, etc.
Hence Paul referred this Scripture in chapter 9:
'' 2 Corinthians 9:9 :As it is written :
''He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor ;
his righteousness endures for ever. ''
In Christ's righteousness, by His grace, we are granted many gifts of the Spirit.
Just like through His stripes healing of sin in flesh flows to us, through His poverty, generosity flows.
Christ lived in poverty so that He can grant us redemption from all selfishness and set us free from idolatry called greed, and the Spirit of God, in Christ, grants us generosity, so that we give into the kingdom of God.
When we act in such generosity, we have Christ's righteousness in us - and this keeps us reconciled to God.
And this '' Righteousness '' inturn connects us to God's promise, and therefore we are assured of a bountiful harvest -'' Whoever sows bountifully reaps bountifully.''
Now, when God increases our harvest, what would be God's purpose? Is it to make us wealthy or does he have a different purpose?
Lets read further :
'' 2 Corinthians 9:10,11 - Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every ocassion and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. ''
It's very important that we understand the revelation in each word Apostle Paul had spoken in these Scriptures.
Lets meditate on this as the Spirit of God helps us :
Paul referred the harvest as '' Harvest of righteousness,'' this means the seed that is sown must be seed of righteousness?
So what is seed of Righteousness? It is the Word of God, that is Christ. Agree ?
This seed in us produces the gift of the Spirit, which is ''Generosity.''
So that with this God given generosity, when we sow into God's Kingdom, we reap the
''Harvest of Righteousness.''
Its begins with the Seed of God and results in the Seed of God, that is Christ, our Righteousness. No where anything else is referred to having any power of a seed to influence or to play a role. No money, no wealth, no cars, or no jets have any role to play in reaping God's promises.
Its begins with the Seed of God and results in the Seed of God, that is Christ, our Righteousness. No where anything else is referred to having any power of a seed to influence or to play a role. No money, no wealth, no cars, or no jets have any role to play in reaping God's promises.
'' 2 Corinthians 9:10,11 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God ''
May the Spirit of God grant us revelation on each of Paul's words in the above Scriptures :
1. Seed to the Sower = Seed refers to the Word: God supplies us His word; We are the sowers, His Word is the Seed in us - Through this Word Seed, we receive the Gifts of the Spirit (in this context, it is the gift of Generosity).
( Doesn't mean seeds of money or wealth )
2. Bread for food = Bread to our spirits - Spiritual Food, to strengthen us in His word and strengthen our spirits.
May the Spirit of God grant us revelation on each of Paul's words in the above Scriptures :
1. Seed to the Sower = Seed refers to the Word: God supplies us His word; We are the sowers, His Word is the Seed in us - Through this Word Seed, we receive the Gifts of the Spirit (in this context, it is the gift of Generosity).
( Doesn't mean seeds of money or wealth )
2. Bread for food = Bread to our spirits - Spiritual Food, to strengthen us in His word and strengthen our spirits.
( Doesn't mean our regular, natural food )
3. Increase Store of Seed = Increase more of His supply of His word, i.e., store of God's word in us will be increased - so that that more Gifts of the Spirit may manifest in us.
( Doesn't mean our bank balances or store of material wealth )
4. Harvest of your righteousness = Harvest Gifts of the Spirit, and reap promises of God, because of righteousness.
3. Increase Store of Seed = Increase more of His supply of His word, i.e., store of God's word in us will be increased - so that that more Gifts of the Spirit may manifest in us.
( Doesn't mean our bank balances or store of material wealth )
4. Harvest of your righteousness = Harvest Gifts of the Spirit, and reap promises of God, because of righteousness.
5. You will be made rich in every way = Made rich in every area - spiritually, as well as we reap a bountiful material harvest because we sow bountifully in our rich generosity coming from Christ's righteousness.
6. '' .....so that you can be generous on every ocassion '' = We are made rich in every way FOR ONE REASON as quoted by Paul. i.e., so that we may gladly keep giving generously into His kingdom...and the more we keep giving, the more God keeps increasing because of our righteousness in Christ.
Hence Paul has referred the below Scripture while he was illustrating the above :
'' 2 Corinthians 9:9 : As it is written : ''He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor ; his righteousness endures for ever. ''
In this Scripture:
1. Gifts = Gifts of the Spirit, given to us by His grace in Christ - in this context, the gift of generosity.
1. Gifts = Gifts of the Spirit, given to us by His grace in Christ - in this context, the gift of generosity.
2. Poor = Poor in heart, those hearts that are stuck by poverty in giving, or lack of willingness in giving.
Christ scattered His gifts to all of us - Through His poverty He scattered the gift of Generosity.
In Christ's righteousness, we can now become generous.
Hence Paul quotes in15th verse : '' Thanks be to God, for his indescribable gift ''
( 2 Corinthians 9:15)
Now lets read from Galatians and read how God's promises are connected to the SEED:
'' Galatians 3:16 : The promises of God were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say ''and to seeds,'' meaning many people, but ''and to your
seed,'' meaning one person, who is Christ. ''
So - Christ is the SEED.
'' Galatians 3:16 : The promises of God were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say ''and to seeds,'' meaning many people, but ''and to your
seed,'' meaning one person, who is Christ. ''
So - Christ is the SEED.
And this SEED, in the Word form, when sown in us, produces RICH Spirit gifts in us.
And connects us to God's promises.
Lets read from Luke and see what Jesus says about a ''rich fool'':
Parable of a Rich Fool in '' Luke 12 : 20,21 '' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for
Lets read from Luke and see what Jesus says about a ''rich fool'':
Parable of a Rich Fool in '' Luke 12 : 20,21 '' But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for
yourself?' This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.'' ''
Jesus clealry tells us through this parable that He wants us all to be ''RICH Toward God''.
Jesus clealry tells us through this parable that He wants us all to be ''RICH Toward God''.
And He certainly is not advising to store up material wealth and become rich and wealthy.
Father in heaven, Thank you for granting us your grace, and helping us with your Spirit to understand your word.
The more RICH we become toward God, by increased Seed of Word in us, the more blessings God will send ( spiritual and material ), and increase our harvest of Righteousness, so that we keep sowing them bountifully back into His kingdom to spread His kingdom.
Therefore , dear people of God, please realize : 'He became poor so that I can be rich' - doesn't mean, Jesus lived in poverty to give you a lavish earthly life !
He lived in poverty only to give you a lavish heart, that is generous, and free from love of money, and love of the world, and to make you give more and more to God, in order to Keep You RECONCILED to GOD .
But NOT to divert and set your heart onto worldly riches !!!
...by His Poverty I am Rich.... in Generosity ...
Therefore , dear people of God, please realize : 'He became poor so that I can be rich' - doesn't mean, Jesus lived in poverty to give you a lavish earthly life !
He lived in poverty only to give you a lavish heart, that is generous, and free from love of money, and love of the world, and to make you give more and more to God, in order to Keep You RECONCILED to GOD .
But NOT to divert and set your heart onto worldly riches !!!
...by His Poverty I am Rich.... in Generosity ...
and when I sow bountifully in Christ's Righteousness, I reap a harvest of Righteousness...
and made rich in every way...only to become more Generous .....
May God grant us grace to abide by His Truth.
Let's Pray..
May God grant us grace to abide by His Truth.
Let's Pray..
Father in heaven, Thank you for granting us your grace, and helping us with your Spirit to understand your word.
Thank You for granting us the revelation on Apostle Paul's writings on Christ's poverty.
Father, may Your will be accomplished in our lives, through Christ's Righteousness, and may You increase the store of Your Seed in us, and make us rich in every way so that we become generous in all occasions, and offer our thanksgiving to You.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Father, may Your will be accomplished in our lives, through Christ's Righteousness, and may You increase the store of Your Seed in us, and make us rich in every way so that we become generous in all occasions, and offer our thanksgiving to You.
In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
God Bless You.
