August 9, 2004

THE HOMELESS ONE

"Jesus replied, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head' " (Matthew 8:20, NIV).

This title, "The Homeless One," is the reversal of the proverbial rags-to-riches stories that fascinate people so much. It is a riches-to-rags story, but it has an even happier ending than the usual formulation.

Paul tells the story this way: "Though he [Christ] was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich" (2 Corinthians 8:9, NIV). He who was rich in His pre-incarnate existence, made Himself poor so that by His poverty the truly poor might become truly rich. Christ divested Himself of the prerogatives of deity, the adoration and loyalty of the angelic hosts, and the splendor of heaven. He became homeless, penniless, and destitute. He was dependent on friends for His daily subsistence. Even at death, He was interred in a friend's tomb.

The good news is that Christ's poverty has made us rich--not in stocks, bonds, silver, or gold--but in true wealth. We have riches that are not subject to devaluation and fluctuation. This wealth is pegged to the gold standard of the Royal Bank of Heaven. Through Christ's poverty, we have become heirs to eternal riches, eternal life, a permanent, happy home, and a character like that of our Redeemer. Meditate on this: "He [Christ] was the Majesty of heaven, and yet He stooped so low, without losing one atom of His dignity and glory! He stooped to poverty and to the deepest abasement among men. For our sake He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich."--Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 253.

My Prayer Today: Lord, because You took my poverty in exchange for Your riches, I will love You and serve You forever. Amen.