“Give me neither poverty nor riches,” was a wise request, and “Be content with such things as ye have,” is often a needed injunction; for we are not always mindful that He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” None perhaps know the trials connected with poverty or riches, but those who are actually brought into such circumstances. But many of the Lord’s people have been tried by one or the other. Poverty is easily understood to be a trial. When it really comes, its pinch is keenly felt. To be rich is more congenial to human selfishness, and often gives the owner a place of honor and distinction among men; so that it is only realized to be a trial by those whose consciences are exercised before the Lord.
In poverty, if God be not the refuge and strength, if He be not trusted for sustainment and deliverance, the heart soon becomes despondent, or busy to invent contrivances, sometimes not very honorable, to force a way of escape. Efforts of this kind, under such circumstances, are by no means uncommon, and the painful nature of the trial is often pleaded in justification of unbelieving ways. But worldly wisdom is not the wisdom that cometh down from above; nor is carnal stratagem after the pattern of the grace and truth which come by Jesus Christ. The contrivances of unbelief only cripple faith, and, sooner or later, bring dishonor on the name of the Lord; such actings also spoil the Christian’s testimony for the Lord, and embitter his path for the remainder of his wilderness journey. A sense of the grace of God in not having spared His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, often wakes up faith, and puts unbelief to shame. But how many have dishonored the Lord in time of poverty!
In earthly prosperity, if God be not hearkened to and obeyed, some may have painfully to learn that “riches take to themselves wings and fly away;” or their path may be beset with humblings, disappointment, spiritual leanness, and regrets, with faith weakened, and hope sadly dimmed.
That soul alone is happy who knows he is the Lord’s, and can truly say, “ He loved me, and gave himself for me.” Assured by the word of God that he is accepted in the Beloved, and loved by the Father as He loves the Son, he enters into the truth that he is kept here only to do His will. To such every question resolves itself in this, What is the Lord’s will? and a dependent, obedient heart lives not to itself, but to Him who died and rose again for us. Perhaps there is no greater trial to which a child of God can be exposed than the rapid pouring in of wealth. Few have been able to bear it. Many have fallen grievously by it. Some have become so intoxicated by it, as to plunge themselves into foolish and pernicious occupations. Others have been drawn back again into the world, who seemed for a while to have run well in ways of separation from it; while some who began this new responsibility as God’s stewards, have grown up to be patrons, and even to seek a place of honor among men by it. In fact, whatever be our circumstances, all God’s people have painfully to learn that in us, that is in our flesh, dwelleth no good thing, and that we cannot bring forth fruit except we are abiding in cur Lord Jesus. Nothing else can possibly preserve us in the path that glorifies God. Whether we have poverty or riches, each believer has alike to cry, “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe.” To be happy in the Lord day by day, in the lowly path of dependence and obedience, is of the highest importance; for nothing can be ministered by us for His glory without this. We do well to remember His precious words, “Abide in me.... for without me, ye can do nothing.” (John 15:4, 54Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. (John 15:4‑5).)
How many poor saints have been sweetly sustained and comforted by remembering that Jesus was poor! When He went about from place to place ministering the glad-tidings of the kingdom, are we not told that “certain women ministered unto him of their substance?” (Luke 8:2, 32And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. (Luke 8:2‑3).) And, when He died for us on the cross, what earthly possessions did He leave? All we read is, that they parted His garments among them, and for His vesture they did cast lots.
Some years ago a christian friend was lovingly visiting a cobbler who was very poor, and residing in the West of England. An earnest servant of the Lord accompanied him, who sometimes gave words of hearty counsel in the form of lines of poetry. They both sought to comfort the tried cobbler in his poverty: but, before taking leave of him, one said, “I will give you, dear brother, a couple of lines:”
“When cruse and barrel both are dry, We then will trust in God most high.”
After pausing a moment, the other said, “Finish it; you have not completed your words of counsel.” But he replied, “I have nothing more to say,” and intimated that he wished to convey to the poor cobbler, that, like Elijah, he should put his trust in God. Then said the other, I would like to add, “When cruse and barrel both are full, To God we’ll consecrate the whole.”
These surely are words in season for rich as well as for poor. To trust in time of need, and to yield ourselves and all He entrusts us with, to Himself, in time of abundance, are alike the path of faith. Happy those who under all circumstances, are so be lore the Lord, and constrained by His love, as to be whole-hearted for Him at all times, and under all circumstances!
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