He Who Makes Himself Poor

Bible Reading: Proverbs 13:1-9

Key Verse: Verse 7 – “There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.”

Key Words: there is that maketh himself poor

Have you ever known someone who turns his back on the world’s riches in order to serve the Lord? Many believe that the Old Testament prophet Elijah was such a man; but he understood that without righteousness in the land, no one will have riches. Then he stood against Ahab and Jezebel and literally made himself poor in order to stand for righteousness. How contrary to today’s world! 

When I was in college, one of the first professors I met was a middle-aged man. He and I became good friends, and over time we found out more and more about each other. To my amazement, I found out that he had left a job in the Northeast where he was a scientist for a large corporation. At the time (1973) he was making just under a six-figure salary. That was a lot of money back then. I then inquired as to why he would leave so much behind him to go into full-time Christian service. I’ll never forget his answer, “What is more valuable than the souls of men?” 

David Livingstone once said, “I place no value on anything I have or may possess, except in relation to the kingdom of God. If anything will advance the interests of the kingdom, it shall be given away or kept, only as by giving or keeping it I shall most promote the glory of Him to whom I owe all my hopes in time and eternity.” 

There are those who make themselves poor in this world’s goods in order that others may have the true riches of Christ.

 

                                                                                            Dr. Mike Rouse

What to do: 

✞ Remember the words of Martin Luther, “I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.”