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RICH POOR & POOR RICH (13 OF 38)

by John Barnett

This content is part of a series.


Rich Poor & Poor Rich (13 of 38)
John Barnett

God describes four types of people living in our world: rich/poor, rich/rich, poor/rich and poor/poor.

Jesus Christ was born in poverty. He was born in a lowly stable, to poor parents, overlooked by the world. Jesus was born in a borrowed manger, he grew up in a poor village, the despised Nazareth.

Jesus never owned any property that we know of, he never had a home of his own. Jesus stayed with friends all through his entire ministry. He lived by the support of his friends who followed him and cared for his every need.

By every estimation Jesus Christ would have been considered in poverty by our generation. He was not one who had any financial security. He did not spend time investing in a retirement program. He was not even living with retirement in mind. His sights were always set at a far more distant goal, the heavenly goal of his Father and his will.

Remember, Jesus became poor for us. II Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

One of the most striking contrasts in the Scriptures is that of the Rich/Poor (outside/inside) and the Poor/Rich. This morning may I introduce you to such a sobering contrast?

The contrast between the poverty of Jesus Christ and the riches of the man I will introduce you to is staggering. Although Maugham was outwardly tremendously successful socially, financially, and personally -- in all actuality, he was desperately poor.

In 1930 (1) one of the most famous of living authors was William Somerset Maugham. He was known as a novelist, a playwright, and a master of the short story. His novel, Of Human Bondage, was established as a classic, and his play, The Constant Wife, had been staged thousands of times.

By 1965, Somerset Maugham was ninety-one years old and fabulously wealthy. Royalties continued to pour in, despite the fact that ...

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