“POVERTY” AND “PROSPERITY”

Who is truly poor, and who is truly rich? This question is a serious question. Whoever answers it correctly, would save himself a lot of trouble, and would have a much better life, that the one who arrives at wrong conclusions. 

– Earlier, a family of four, used to sleep under one fan.
– Now, the same family of four, sleep in four different rooms, under four different fans, in the same house.
– The congested and constrained residence was called the home.
– The spacious and palatial residence has become a house.
– With all the economic limitations, people had rich and lasting relationships, and enriching and empowering friendships.
– With all the freedom and luxury that a prosperous man enjoys, still they are lonely, stressed and depressed.

Now tell me, who is the poor man, living in poverty, and who is the rich man, living in prosperity? How do we define poverty and prosperity? How do we measure poverty and prosperity. Can material and social indicators be considered as measuring yard to arrive at who is poor, and who is prosperous?

Let us see what the Bible, which for us, as Christians, holds such a preeminent place.
– “3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:3
– “6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.” – Proverbs 28:6
– “​1 Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? 2 For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist,” Says the LORD. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.” – Isaiah 66:1-2

The written Word of God places great and significant emphasis on the hearts, attitudes and the integrity of a man, that drive us, than on the physical, material and social standing of an individual. Money does not hold much value in the eyes of God, and in the value system of the kingdom of God. In fact the LORD clearly states what His thoughts are about material and economic possessions.
– “24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?…33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matthew 6:24-25,33

The LORD through His eternal Word had clarified to us that, to run after God and godly things, is far better, than to run after material, economic and social prosperity. A person who seeks God and His righteousness is truly prosperous, than a person who seeks and runs after material, economic and social standing. In fact, such a person is truly poor. Therefore, let us learn to seek God, and desire to walk in His ways. May our hearts, and all its desires be firmly focussed on our Redeemer, and may we always desire to do, what pleases Him.