If Jesus Was Poor, How Poor?



If Jesus Was Poor, How Poor? 

...but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head (Luke 9:58)
There is only one outcome for those that do not use their wealth and riches wisely James 5:1-3 says, “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.” Revelation 18:17 is the last time that riches are mentioned in the Bible, speaking of the great destruction of Babylon: “In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!”
God gave many illustrations and types and truths through Israel because they were His chosen people on earth, there were given earthly promises and rewards. When the Israelite's reached the Promised Land, Moses challenged them to make wise decisions in their new home. In Deuteronomy 30:19, he told the people that choosing well would lead to blessings. Poor decisions would lead to curses. People today want their blessings, but not their curses. And in making poor decisions come curses.
God does not condemn anyone for having riches. Riches come to people from many sources, but He gives grave warnings to those who seek after them more than they seek after God and trust in them more than in God. His greatest desire is for us to set our hearts on things above and not on things on this earth. This may sound very high and unattainable, but Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 

The secret is knowing Christ as Savior and allowing the Holy Spirit to conform our minds and hearts to His (Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”).

Let's look at a few key points about Jesus and his status: (S. Morton, 2019).
  • Though He didn’t have guaranteed lodging each night (Luke 9:58), Jesus doesn’t seem to live on the street. In John 1:39, two curious followers “came and saw where [Jesus] was staying…”
  • Did Jesus own property? Matthew 4:13 says He “settled in Capernaum.” The word kataoikeo might imply home ownership. More probably, Jesus settled in Peter’s mother-in-law’s Capernaum home (Mark 1:29 and 35).
  • Jesus and the Twelve had a money box (John 12:6 and 13:29). Money for the box was donated by many women who had been touched by Jesus’ ministry (Luke 8:1-3).
  • Jesus was criticized for eating and drinking with sinners (Luke 15:2). Unlike John the Baptist, He didn’t live as a desert hermit.
  • The Roman soldiers at the crucifixion would not tear Jesus’ seamlessly woven robe but cast lots for it—implying it was costly (John 19:23–24). 

  • Jesus identified with the poor—they gladly came to Him. “Jesus’ lifestyle is not of one in a gated community or a corporate office,” says Timothy Johnson, a New Testament professor at Emory University in Atlanta. Johnson says that a “rich Jesus” is a distortion of history. 
  • 2 Corinthians 8:9 states, “Though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.” 
Jesus certainly became poor by leaving the multi-faceted riches of the Godhead to dwell as a human on Planet Earth. Through His spiritual poverty (coming to earth and dying for us), we become spiritually rich in Him. But this is not a verse about material economics, more like spiritual economics.

Live the best life you can in God. Be obedient to His word. Be faithful in paying your tithes and offerings so that ministries will be able to thrive and the word of God can continue to be spread throughout the world.
Today, prosperity teachers need a rich Jesus to prove that God wants His followers to be rich. And advocates for the poor prefer a poor Jesus. 

The debate will continue! But instead of forcing a yes or no answer as to whether Jesus was poor or rich, how about this conclusion: Jesus secured enough funding to enable Him to accomplish His calling from God. This is a model we can follow. Let us obtain enough of this world’s resources to accomplish the calling God has uniquely given each of us. For some, that requires wealth. For others, not so much. Now, let’s be practical. 

Let me ask you this, today, you do think Jesus (the earthly version) would own a iPhone? If it helped Him accomplish His calling, Yes!  

I would like to take this time to say thank you to those that partner with us by sowing a financial seed into this ministry regularly. Your generous giving allows us to share the gospel throughout the world. If you’re not a partner and would like to sow into this ministry you can do so by going to PayPal.me/lifeswordministry. And be sure to subscribe and follow the LWM Podcast each week on Spreaker.

Resources:
(S. Morton, 2019) Was Jesus Poor? Was Jesus Rich?:
Location: California, USA

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