God Is Rich

In my meditation this morning, the Spirit reminded me that "My God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." The Spirit emphasized the "riches in Christ Jesus." I want to contemplate the idea of the riches that are in Jesus Christ.

Sadly, this verse is often used to encourage thoughts toward the human idea of riches. Having traveled and lived in other countries, I realize the concept of "riches" is not always shared with those of us who live in America. There is a constant "upward" trend in our country of what is considered rich. When I was a child, living in the great depression, any one who had new shoes and carried a full lunch sack to school was considered as "rich". I think of the parable Jesus gave of the rich man who tore down his barns to build bigger barns when I see the race of some to have "bigger and better" than what the neighbors have.

But this is not the riches in Christ Jesus, nor is this the need we all have. Sunk in the limitation of our human nature, we do not fully comprehend the full measure of our need. I know this verse is in the passage of the epistle of Paul to the church at Philippi and concerns their giving. But Paul is addressing something beyond the physical element of their giving. He is reaching to the mercy, the compassion, the generosity of spirit and the motive in the giving of the gift. His speaking of the attitude toward money and being content with what one has, seems to be almost a parenthetical thought. But it is the essence of an overflowing life in Christ Jesus.

Jesus spoke of the widow's gift of the mite as being greater than the "show" of greater amounts, for she gave all she had. This speaks of a lack of fear in the widow. Giving beyond the fear of not having enough for one's self, speaks of a trust in God to supply our human needs, that reaches in to the riches in Christ Jesus. Reckless abandonment to live your life in Him, to trust Him for the supplying of your needs, opens the door to His riches. This goes far beyond money, the need for food, shelter, clothing, etc. This reaches in to the care God has for all His creation. His mercy, compassion and love flows freely to this realm. It is blocked only by those things in our nature that we justify. These things are born out of the fear that is so hard to shake. Fear generates carefulness of self, greed, criticism, lust and all the lacks of mercy and love. Fear holds us captive to our human nature.

Yielding ourselves in trust to lean on the everlasting arms of the One Who gave Himself for us, opens us to the Spirit's guidance into all truth. That truth, abiding in us, yields the harvest of the nature of God in us. Isn't that the covenant response to His desire to make us in His image? Don't hoard your poverty in the fear of "what if?" but release it in trust and acknowledgment of His great riches of mercy, love and compassion. Live in Him and know the victory He has won over all of this realm, even your nature!