Title: God of Abundance
2 Corinthians (33) God in abundance (2 Corinthians 8:9)
<God of Abundance>
There is this argument. “Because Jesus lived poor, we must live poor too.” According to that argument, it seems as if being rich is a sin. However, there are many opposites in the Bible. The text says that Jesus became poor in order to make us rich. However, this does not mean that Jesus literally became really poor, but rather the spiritual meaning that the Son of God came in human form.
People mistakenly believe that Jesus lived in poverty like the homeless with no home on this earth, but in reality, Jesus also had a home to live in. In John 1, two disciples of John the Baptist ask where Jesus is. Then Jesus said, “Come!” They followed him to Jesus’ residence and stayed overnight (verse 39). This means that Jesus' house had enough room to put two guests to sleep. In that house Jesus lived with at least six of his brothers (Mark 6:3).
In Matthew 8:20, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” This does not mean that Jesus actually did not have a home. I mean, you said you were busy over there. Therefore, it is not correct to say that since Jesus had no home, the saints must live poorly without a home.
Also, Jesus' companions had a money box, and the person in charge of the money box was Judas Iscariot (John 12:6). With the money, he bought things for the festival and also helped the poor (John 13:29). In other words, Jesus did not live without money, but lived proudly while giving alms.
Where did that money come from? The transformed people gave the material. For example, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna donated materials to help the gospel ministry of Jesus (Luke 8:1-3). In particular, Joanna, the wife of King Herod's vault keeper Gusa, must have played a key role in solving material problems. Judging from such various personal evidences, it is wrong to say that because Jesus was torn and poor, the saints should also define material things as evil and live poorly.
< Blessings of abundant life >
When Jesus was crucified, the Roman soldiers tried to win each other's clothes by drawing lots (John 19:23-24). That means that Jesus did not go out preaching the gospel, living in poverty, wearing clothes that were worn out like rags. Some people think that ministers should live in poverty, but that is not God's will. The Bible does not say that a poor life is a gracious life.
When God created the heavens and the earth, several times he said, “It was good!” That means creation was rich. The Garden of Eden was also a garden of abundance, not a garden of poverty. However, after the crime, they suffered from poverty as a cursed thorn and thistle. In other words, God did not originally give poverty, but it was after the sin that poverty was given. Recognize that fact and have faith and hope to overcome poverty.
Many of the ancestors of faith receive material blessings. Abraham was rich in cattle and silver and gold (Gen. 13:1-2). His son Isaac was also blessed and rejected (Gen. 26:12-14). When Jacob, too, crossed the Jordan River to escape his brother Esau, he crossed with only his staff, but later returned home with two large crowds and material (Gen. 32:10). As such, believers should strive to improve not only their souls but also their lives. The blessing of salvation is also promised the blessing of abundant life. It is not that poverty is a curse. However, believers must work tirelessly to escape poverty.
According to Exodus 1:12, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt, but later they became so great that the Egyptians were afraid. Because that is not enough, we promise the land of Canaan flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). Likewise, God wants to lead His children into a world of abundance. Now seek to be abundant in heart, abundant in life, and abundant in spirit. Salvation comes through faith, but blessings come through devotion.