A predominant thought in many Christian circles is that poverty is a characteristic of humility. A verse like, “…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Mt. 19:24), is often used to teach that the righteous are not be wealthy.
Job’s life is also referred to as a model of how God can use a life that is poverty-stricken, sick, and afflicted. However, the entire Book of Job happened within a period of nine months. And the last chapter of Job tells us, “the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before” (Job 42:10).
Redeemed From the Curse
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith…29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:13, 14, 29)
This passage tells us that we have been redeemed from the curse of the law. What is the curse of the law? In the first five books of the Old Testament, which is called the Pentateuch, or the Books of the Law, we are told that the curse, or punishment for breaking God’s law, is threefold: 1) spiritual death, 2) no protection from attack or sickness/disease, 3) and poverty/debt.
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of spiritual death—we do not need to fear death. He as delivered us from the attacks of the enemy and/or sickness and disease. And He has delivered us from poverty and debt.
Just as the curse is three-fold in nature, so is the blessing. First, there is the promise of salvation (spiritual blessing). Second, there is the promise of physical protection from sickness and from attack. Third, there is the promise of financial blessing.
The Jews inherited the blessing through their father Abraham. It was not the Jews’ blessing or promise, or even Israel’s blessing. It is Abraham’s blessing! And that blessing is now given to those who are in Christ.
Destined to Rule and Reign
God created everything, and then He made man, and gave him dominion over all of it. God made it all for Adam. He gave Adam dominion over the cattle on a thousand hills, over the silver and gold, over the world and the fullness thereof.
But Adam committed high treason and sold out to Satan. Jesus, however, came to redeem us from Satan’s power and dominion over us. Romans 5:17 says, “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” The Amplified version of the scripture reads, “They shall reign as kings in life, by one Jesus Christ.”
We are to reign as kings in life. That means that we have dominion over our lives. We are to dominate—not be dominated. Circumstances are not to dominate you—you are to dominate over circumstances. Poverty is not to rule and reign over you—you are to rule and reign over poverty. Sickness and disease are not to rule and reign over you—you are to rule and reign over sickness.
The Heart of the Father
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? (Matthew 7:11)
How many of us who are parents want our children to go through life hungry, sick, under attack, or never having enough money to make it? No parent wants that! In fact, we work and sacrifice to try to help our children get a better position in life than we had.
God put all the cattle here, all the silver and gold, and is it reasonable to think that He did all of this only for the ungodly? Certainly He loves the sinner, but does He love the sinner more than His own children? No. God put all these things here for His people. He said to Israel,
If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. (Isaiah 1:19)
God wants the best for His children!
Love,
Pastor Joel
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