The Pauper Prince
Colossians 3.1-4
If ye then be risen with Christ , seek those things which are above , where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God . 2 Set your affection on things above , not on things on the earth . 3 For ye are dead , and your life is hid with Christ in God . 4 When Christ , [who is] our life , shall appear , then shall ye also appear with him in glory .
Materialism is one of the greatest struggles that American Christians face in our modern times. We live in a culture where those who would have been considered rich in our Lord's culture are viewed as the poor. Clearly poverty is a matter of cultural perspective. How we view and handle our prosperity as Christians is a reflection of our spiritual maturity and submission to our Lord.
The Rich man will find it harder to enter the Kingdom of heaven than it would be for a Camel to go through the eye of a needle, according to our Lord. Why? Because a rich man will look to his possessions for his provision and will never really need God or Christ. On the other hand poor folk will tend to look outward for their provision and will often find the Lord Jesus Christ in the process; who is the great provider of life. Yet, it is not impossible for a rich man to be saved.
Something extraordinary happens to a rich individual when they truly receive the Lord Jesus Christ. They become a Pauper Prince. When they receive the Lord Jesus Christ they become an adopted child of God (John 1.12), joint heirs with Jesus Christ. Yet they also become paupers through their complete surrender to the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Everything that once marked them as rich folk in our world's perspective is yielded and surrendered to the Lordship of the Savior of their souls. Jesus gave everything up for you, now you willingly give everything up for Him.
The world around us does not recognize this spiritual reality. As far as our culture is concerned you are still rich, but in respect to our Lord and His kingdom you have willingly become poor. You are still capable of making decisions about how your finances will be handled, but the Pauper Prince yields every decision to his Lord and Savior for the sake of His glorious kingdom. Everything has changed, the prosperous has laid down His riches because he has realized that they are but worthless in our Lord's eternal kingdom.
Many Christians seem to struggle with this spiritual reality. How do I know? Because the marks of prosperity's struggle are evident in their lives. What are some of these marks?
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Do you find it hard to tithe the 10% that God has asked you to give? Or do you find it an incredible privilege to properly administer our Lord's goods?
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Do you find it difficult to give your offering, over and above your tithes? Or do you find it wonderful to see how our God can do so much with so little?
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Do you get discouraged if God takes back some of what He has given you in this life? Or can you honestly say with Job, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him?"
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Is your mansion the one you have built in this life, or are your hopes placed on the eternal one?
Prosperity when properly and spiritually applied in a Christians life becomes a divine stewardship in the life of a pauper. The things that our Lord has placed in your life have been given for you, a Pauper Prince, to use for your Lord's glory with an eternal mindset. If you have truly set your affections on things above, then you will be a Pauper Prince.
Published August 22, 2006, Devotional Email
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