I Would Rather Be Poor

I Would Rather Be Poor

      I would rather be wretchedly poor in the eyes of the world and have Jesus than to be extremely wealthy in the material wealth of the world and not to know him, for to know him, and know him aright is life abundant and everlasting.

      As the world awakens this Christmas season, some will awake with great rejoicing in the knowledge and assurance that the promised Messiah and redeemer has been born, and lives in their hearts, and lives on high, and loves and cares for his own. Some have vaguely heard of him, but have never seriously considered why he came to earth as the babe in the manger. Some have been offered the greatest gift of all time, but as far as they are concerned, that gift remains unopened and not received by them, and they are not enjoying the great blessing that was meant for them. Some are so extremely rich in this world's goods that they have need of nothing, so they think, and the material gifts they receive are meaningless to them, and the only joy they know is in the things they can squander on themselves and satisfy the lusts of the flesh. Tomorrow they will have little or nothing in which to rejoice.

      The beggar on the street, if he has Christ in his heart, is richer by far than the most wealthy king or prince who has no remedy for his sin and guilt, and consequently, no hope of eternity other than to be confined forever to the bottomless pit and torments of hell.

      There is not enough gold or silver or precious stones or jewelry in the whole universe that could pay the cost of one drop of blood that Christ shed for the lost sinner.

      I awoke on Christmas morning with one thought on my mind, and that is: thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift of love. I opened that gift first , and though I am desperately poor by the world's standard, yet I am wealthy because the precious, priceless blood of the lord Jesus Christ was shed for me, and I have received an inheritance in my Father's house that could not be equaled or compared to anything that the world has to offer.

      Yes, I count them, (the material riches of the world) as filthy rags in comparison to the unspeakable riches of Christ. What are you teaching your children? Christ, while on earth, had no place to lay his head. Are you willing to follow and serve him this Christmas season?

From the book - “Morning Thoughts And Meditations” - by Robert A. Searles – all rights reserved