Rich Man, Poor Man

Many years ago, a best-selling novel was turned into a TV blockbuster series entitled Rich Man, Poor Man. That title is so apt for this column today. You see, many Christians may be described this way – we are rich, though we may be poor at the same time. Let me explain.

 

In 1916,America’s first female tycoon died, living behind a fortune of $100 M, valued at $2 Billion in 2006. At the time of her life and death, Henrietta Robinson Green or Hetty Green, was the richest woman in the world.  Born in a wealthy, shipping family, Hetty Green inherited millions when her father died, which she invested in Wall St. She was also known as the Witch of Wall Street (because of her greediness) and America’s Greatest Miser in the Guinness Book of Records. You see, though she was the richest woman alive at that time, Hetty looked and lived like a pauper. She never used hot water or the heater. She only had one dress at a time, and would not buy another until it wore out. She ate in soup kitchens and lived in small apartments. She was so stingy that when her son Ned hurt his leg in a skiing accident, Hetty didn’t want to spend on hospital bills so she treated the wound herself. It turned into gangrene and had to be amputated. She also preferred to suffer the pain of her hernia because didn’t want to spend $150 for operation. Unbelievable!

 

Unfortunately, many Christians are like Hetty Green who look and live like paupers, when they are actually amazingly wealthy, thru Jesus’ work. By talking to some of us, people would never guess we have any hope of getting an inheritance. So many Christians are joyless in their souls and so caught up in this world. This is why Paul prayed that may God open the eyes of our heart so the Holy Spirit can show us the glorious inheritance we have (Ephesians 1:18). Every believer has been given an inheritance. If you have received Jesus, whether you believe it or not; you have an inheritance and a down payment, a deposit has been given- which is your guarantee that there’s more to come- the Holy Spirit.

 

The riches of the inheritance that God has promised us are so great if we will only believe the Bible. We will inherit eternal life; we will inherit the earth; we will inherit the Kingdom of God. The Bible says everything is ours in Christ Jesus. Most importantly, as believers, we can claim the promises we find in the Bible and we can be sure that God will give it to us, if we have faith. 1 Cor 1: 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through Him, the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. Yes, as believers, we inherited every single promise in the Bible.

 

Today, you may be going through hard times and the devil has made you believe that you are poor and forgotten by God. You have to believe that you are an heir of God, and all difficulties are temporary. Someday, we will reign with God.

 

So, like Paul, I pray for each one of us to have the eyes of our hearts opened – so that we may know that glorious inheritance God has prepared for us. If we believe this by faith – we will overcome, whatever trial we undergo in life.

 

Praise our Father who has made us joint heirs with Jesus!