Despite the fact, that the title is a paradox, it holds an absolute biblical truth for us to examine. Think of how many people are incredibly wealthy in this world. Consider how many entertainers, athletes and musicians, not to mention the number of entrepreneurs who are simply ridiculously rich according to their assets on a balance sheet. And yet, an incredible number of those persons who have had an overabundance of financial wealth have ended up filing for bankruptcy. Just goes to prove, that wealth can’t by discernment!
All that money and yet they have no cents! And NO, that’s not a typo my friends… that’s a biblical truth!
If we look to the story in Mark 12:42, we read, “But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.”[1] Her spiritual sense in offering her only cents, demonstrated her immeasurable spiritual wealth; a richness that can’t be bought, regardless of the amount of money in one’s checking account. Her actionable faith in giving all her money as an offering in worship to glory God was a result of the depth of her spiritual prosperity.
Although the “wealthy yet bankrupt” scenario is all too common in the world among those who are not Christians, we must guard against this potential disaster with great earnest. Lest we think too highly of ourselves, we only need to open the book of Revelation to understand the significant danger the church faces today:
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen—the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s new creation: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”[2]
Could we, the body of believers, the church, actually be at risk of such horrific condemnation from our Lord? Is it possible that a local assembly could become so tainted by indifference, so tempered in not being on fire for Christ, that lukewarm would be the displayed temperature of their testimony?
Let’s not fool ourselves… we must always be aware of the ever-present risk that our financial wealth might well be a guise of the enemy to cover our spiritual poverty.
Let our hearts be continually drawn to Christ Jesus in the abundance of our spiritual wealth, to seek wisdom, discernment and guidance to be the faithful stewards He has called us to be for His glory!
[1] NIV
[2] NLT