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Here we look at a Proverb that contrasts not only the the true believer to an unbeliever, but also spiritual riches to physical ones. Today more than ever in the history of mankind do we see a desire for wealth and selfishness, never before have there been exorbant salaries made by CEO's, actors, athletes and other professions today. But lets thinks about this, what about if one did become a huge success and made billions of dollars? Just like every one else that person will die one day:
"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22).
Throught the Bible we learn that one cannot love both excess riches and God at the same time; this is why the Proverb indicates that one who makes themself poor has great riches. This is not speaking of great physical poverty, but making oneself poor in spirit as our LORD taught that blessed are the poor in spirit. Being poor in spirit means bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit which Galatians 5:22ff tells us are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In Luke 12 Jesus also denounced covetousness:
"he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:15-21).
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