Contributor: Isekhua Evborokhai
INTRODUCTION
In last week’s study, we looked at an interesting topic titled: “Reigning as Kings.” We learnt that the very notion of reigning carries with it the idea of ruling, of dominion, and of having authority. If believers don’t know that we have the authority to rule and reign on earth then Satan is often able to reign, or rule, in the life of Christians and people around them. We can reign because God gave us: abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness.
In many ways, these special gifts from God enable us to be prosperous too! In today’s study we will look at one of the tricks the enemy attempts to play on unsuspecting Christians in a topic titled “Humility vs Poverty.”
It is important to consider this subject because many Christians equate humility with poverty. But that’s simply another trick of the enemy!
2 Peter 1:3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” Emphasis mine
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” Emphasis mine
POVERTY IS NOT A PROOF OF HUMILITY!
Driving an old car, living in a squalor, deprived and limited doesn’t equate to humility. "That's not being humble—that's being ignorant!"
Humility is the quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance. In other words, you have a modest view of your importance “in your own eyes”; but all the time knowing that in the eyes of God you are extremely important! To the point that He sent His only Son to die for you! And He gave you all things that pertain unto life and godliness!
There are those who support their claim; justifying that poverty is a sign of humility by statements such as: "You know, Jesus and the disciples never drove fancy cars!" Well, there were no fancy cars back then; but Jesus rode on a donkey. It was the "fancy car" of that day—the best means of transportation they had.
What is required from us is modesty – not poverty!
GOD’S INTENTION FOR BELIEVERS
Psalm 35:27 says: “Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” Emphasis mine
Note that the Bible DID NOT say “which hath pleasure in the POVERTY of his servant.”
Also, from last week’s study, we learnt that God expects us to reign as kings! (Romans 5:17) So, we should keep that in our minds when we are faced with those who don’t know any better; those blinded by the trickery of the devil wanting to make us believe we should live our lives less than what God intended for us!
Many believers have allowed the devil to cheat them out of every blessing they could enjoy; because of the way they think and the way they believe the promises of the Father.
God didn't intend us to be poverty-stricken. He said we are to reign in life as kings. Who would ever imagine a king being poverty-stricken? The idea of poverty just doesn't go along with kings.
THE PLAN OF THE ENEMY
The ultimate attack the enemy deploys against believers is to put them in the place where they “rebel” against God! He thrives when people are ignorant! And when their balance is skewed! It was his rebellion that drove him from heaven and he wants believers “sent away” from God’s presence by putting us in opposition to what God’s words say. For instance Joshua 1:8b says:
“. . . for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
But the thought of poverty completely negates God’s words of being prosperous and having good success.
CONCLUSION
God wants us to be humble but not poor! He wants us to reign as kings; but the idea of poverty just doesn't go along with kings! How in this world for instance will someone who is poor lend to nations? Deuteronomy 15:6 says:
“For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.”
To continue to live in poverty invariably means we “deprive” the Father of the pleasure He has when we prosper. (Psalm 35:27, Rev. 4:11)
It’s a no brainer; poverty is NOT an indication of humility! Humility is based on the contents of your heart; not what you have or don’t have!
Parts of this study was culled from The Believers’ Authority by Kenneth E. Hagin.
