From Riches to Poverty The Christmas story told by a British writer A OI^^American history is replete with fascinating stories of immi grants who came to this fabulous continent as poor as they could be, but who, by their ability, determi nat ion and resourcefulness, left their rags for riches.
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have little sympathy. The one view seeks to draw out our pity for the poor Man of Nazareth; the other view is more modem and vigorous, namely, the presentation of Christ the Carpenter as a social reformer well able to lead the people in their struggle for a better order. The true New Testament teach ing of our Lord’s poverty is not that it is sentimental but sacramental. Paul did not have in mind anything trivial or practical when he wrote of Christ becoming poor. In his unique way he stressed the pro found and mystical truth of substi tution, Christ’s humiliation for our sakes. He descended from riches to poverty that we might ascend from poverty to riches. The Paradox of His Humiliation We will never be able fully to understand all that is wrapped up in the Pauline phrase “ though he was rich.” Christ’s previous heav enly wealth is the background of His poverty. What kind of wealth did Jesus possess before He was bom in a manger? Certainly not material wealth, although by virtue of crea tion He was infinitely rich (John 1:3; Col. 1:16). His true wealth was essentially spiritual. The trea sures He left behind were of a three fold nature. Life in eternity was a part of the riches He willingly for sook on our behalf. He asserted His pre-existence in the words “ . . . Be fore Abraham was, I am.” Fellow ship with God was another part of Christ’s sacrificial wealth. “ I come forth from the Father.” He could never say in past eternity “my God, my God, why has thou forsaken me?” Glory with the Father also consti tuted another element of Christ’s past riches. He came to earth as the Prince of Glory and could speak of the glory He had with the Father from the dateless past. Such glory was never dimmed by humiliation. “ Rich . . . he be came poor.” Christ personified the wealth of heaven; yet all was sacri-
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The story of Christmas, however, tells us of one who forsook pleni tude for poverty, and who, by such a surrender, made it possible for multitudes to leave their rags of self-righteousness for the riches of grace. Paul has crystallized the meaning of Christmas in those memorable words to the Corinthi ans, . . though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9). As the Christmas season draws near, it will be well for us to be reminded anew of the humiliation of Jesus. Leaving the wealth of heaven, what voluntary sacrifices Christ endured in order that His redeemed ones might ultimately share heaven’s wealth with Him. One who is accustomed to poverty all his days, having never experi enced affluence, finds it compara tively easy to get along. How dif ferent it is for one who was born amid luxury and finds himself beg gared beyond description! In past eternity, Christ was rich. Riches of glory, of honor, of free dom from human limitations, an guish, tears, hunger and death were His. But for our sakes He became poor. At His birth there was no room for Him in the inn. He was bom poor and died poor. Poverty was Christ’s constant earthly com panion. A poor woman gave Him to the world. For some 15 years He earned His own bread. At times He had nowhere to lay His head. Often He dined at another man’s table. He rode on another man’s ass. He was laid to rest in another man’s grave. He had nothing to leave His mother and His own, save a legacy of peace. There are two opposite views of the poverty of Jesus with which we
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