Are You Rich or Poor?
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What does it mean to be rich? By most standards, being rich means that a person has an abundance of things like houses, cars, boats, planes and access to loads of cash. Yet, as recently seen in the media, an abundance of things do not necessarily bring those lasting treasures such as joy, contentment and peace.
Some have traveled the world over yet they still have a continual need to keep grasping at the straws. They still want more like an insolent child who screams to get his or her way. They continue to spend their assets and use their resources to get or do more, failing to realize that oftentimes, less truly is more.
Paul wrote about Christ and said, “though he was rich, yet for your sakes, he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.” (II Corinthians 8:9) And how did he become rich in his poverty? The poor often have an increased wisdom and understanding. They know what it feels like to be in pain so in turn they are able to share compassion with others.
The poor have walked in meekness and humility after they realized that they could not force change. They have learned to wait until the tide changes, as it surely will. During their wait, they have grown in patience. Like an astute farmer, they have become attuned to nature and its timings.
Yes, the poor are well-seasoned in long-suffering yet unconsciously they have become richer as their inner peace expands beyond measure. In a quiet, yet watchful grace, the poor become witnesses to the passing of the material things as they cling to their faith and a more spiritual assuredness.
Ultimately, hope floats to the top and sure enough others reach out to them. They want to garner a few moments in the presence of the poor to feel their richness of spirit though it is often a mystique. The humble poor are often well-loved because they have successfully found those real treasures of life blanketed around their inner joy!
Lynn M. July 28, 2018
