There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
The verse sets outward appearance against true condition, for a man may present himself as rich while having nothing, and another may appear poor while possessing great riches. To make oneself rich yet have nothing is to seek riches of one's own choosing by selfish getting and by the world's measure, which leaves nothing of lasting worth, since wealth cannot restore what the hunger for it destroys and at death none of it is carried away. To make oneself poor yet have great riches is to be poor in this world's goods while possessing spiritual riches of faith and good works and the Lord's blessing found in Christ. In giving this contrast proves true, for generosity may seem to lessen a man's means yet brings increase, while withholding to grow rich leads to loss. Christ himself walked this way by becoming poor that others might become rich through his poverty, and those who seem poor now but follow him possess the greater riches of eternal life as joint heirs with him.
Appearance and True Riches
The verse belongs to practical instruction for everyday life and contrasts outward appearance with reality, for one may present himself as rich while possessing nothing while another may appear poor yet have great riches. Appearances of wealth and poverty are therefore misleading, since a person may pursue or seem to possess riches yet end in want, while one who gives and lives as though poor may have great riches. Outward wealth and true riches are not the same, as when one with more land withholds time, tithe, and offerings and neglects worship and service while another living on very little gives sacrificially and serves others with joy that helps others join the church. Presenting oneself as rich while having nothing includes dressing and living beyond what one can afford, which is false display and a form of dishonesty.
Making oneself rich yet having nothing means pursuing riches of one's own choosing by selfish getting and by worldly standards, which leaves one with nothing of true and lasting value. The world's way rests on love of self and selfish ownership, while the gospel way rests on divine love and makes possible a commonwealth where each rejoices that all others possess with him. The contrast applies to covetousness as well as actual wealth, since the desire to become rich is itself wicked, and true riches are gained through grace by using possessions and earnings to support gospel work in preparation for the kingdom. Worldly wealth can leave its owner truly possessing nothing, since money cannot restore a husband or the love and happiness lost through hunger for riches, as seen in Mrs. John Manners, whose apparent gain is empty and warns that wealth is no substitute for what gives life real worth.
One may make himself rich in this world yet have nothing lasting, for at death he carries nothing away and his glory does not descend after him. Earthly riches kept for self hurt their owners and profit nothing in the day of wrath, and trusting in them and seeking them as the chief good is worship of money that ends in leaving it all behind. Making oneself poor yet having great riches means being poor in worldly goods yet possessing spiritual riches, which are faith, good works, and the Lord's blessing found in Christ, and those who aid the needy may be poor in worldly goods yet possess great riches because they can lead others to Christ. Those who accept Him become rich in faith, heirs of the kingdom, and heirs of eternal life. True riches are not measured by money or land, and a person with little wealth may be rich in contentment, freedom from debt and fear, honesty, duty to family and neighbors, and the respect of the community.
The verse describes lukewarm Laodicean commandment-keepers who are rich in the truths of the word of God and boast of glorious light from the book of God, yet have nothing because like misers they make a wrong use of those truths and do not enjoy their sanctifying power, leaving them poor and wretched and miserable and blind and naked. Those glorious truths held so long should inspire faith and holy living and nearness to God where His gentle Spirit anoints the eyes. Those who live for themselves and gather this world's goods may be counted rich now but will have nothing at the final settlement if they lack a title to eternal life, while those who seem poor in this world may possess the greater riches of eternal life as joint heirs with Christ.
Giving Gains Lasting Riches
In Christian giving appearances of wealth and poverty mislead, for generosity can seem to reduce one's means yet brings increase. To give away one's means does not make one truly poorer, for generosity is heaven's way to riches. Withholding in order to grow rich, by contrast, can lead to loss and poverty, while one who gives and lives as though poor may come to have great riches. Heavenly riches are not gained the way earthly riches are gained, for making oneself rich by selfish getting leaves one with nothing, while making oneself poor by giving wealth away to others leads to great riches. The world's way rests on love of self and selfish ownership, while the gospel way rests on divine love and makes a commonwealth possible where each rejoices that all others possess with him. Giving is the only way a selfish person can be made fit to be admitted safely into that perfect commonwealth and to possess true and lasting riches hereafter with no sorrow added, and this way is proved by Christ giving up all until He had nowhere to lay His head, becoming poor so that others might become rich through His poverty by following His steps and not merely by receiving what He gave.
Outward wealth and true riches are not the same, as is seen where one man with more land withholds time, tithe, and offerings and neglects worship and service, while another living on very little gives sacrificially and serves others. The generous man's self-denial, faithfulness, and service bring joy and help others join the church, showing that spiritual riches are the fruit of such a life. Those who live for themselves may seem rich in this world but have nothing of lasting value, while those who aid the needy may be poor in worldly goods yet possess great riches. Their true riches are spiritual, for they can lead others to Christ, and those who accept Him become rich in faith, heirs of God's kingdom, and heirs of eternal life.
The contrast also reaches covetousness as well as actual wealth, since worldly standards do not measure true riches and one who makes himself rich may possess nothing of lasting value. The very desire to become rich is itself wicked, while true riches are gained through God's grace. Using possessions and earnings to support gospel work prepares people for God's kingdom.
The verse sets outward appearance against true condition, for a man may present himself as rich while having nothing, and another may appear poor while possessing great riches. To make oneself rich yet have nothing is to seek riches of one's own choosing by selfish getting and by the world's measure, which leaves nothing of lasting worth, since wealth cannot restore what the hunger for it destroys and at death none of it is carried away. To make oneself poor yet have great riches is to be poor in this world's goods while possessing spiritual riches of faith and good works and the Lord's blessing found in Christ. In giving this contrast proves true, for generosity may seem to lessen a man's means yet brings increase, while withholding to grow rich leads to loss. Christ himself walked this way by becoming poor that others might become rich through his poverty, and those who seem poor now but follow him possess the greater riches of eternal life as joint heirs with him.
Appearance and True Riches
The verse belongs to practical instruction for everyday life and contrasts outward appearance with reality, for one may present himself as rich while possessing nothing while another may appear poor yet have great riches. Appearances of wealth and poverty are therefore misleading, since a person may pursue or seem to possess riches yet end in want, while one who gives and lives as though poor may have great riches. Outward wealth and true riches are not the same, as when one with more land withholds time, tithe, and offerings and neglects worship and service while another living on very little gives sacrificially and serves others with joy that helps others join the church. Presenting oneself as rich while having nothing includes dressing and living beyond what one can afford, which is false display and a form of dishonesty.
Making oneself rich yet having nothing means pursuing riches of one's own choosing by selfish getting and by worldly standards, which leaves one with nothing of true and lasting value. The world's way rests on love of self and selfish ownership, while the gospel way rests on divine love and makes possible a commonwealth where each rejoices that all others possess with him. The contrast applies to covetousness as well as actual wealth, since the desire to become rich is itself wicked, and true riches are gained through grace by using possessions and earnings to support gospel work in preparation for the kingdom. Worldly wealth can leave its owner truly possessing nothing, since money cannot restore a husband or the love and happiness lost through hunger for riches, as seen in Mrs. John Manners, whose apparent gain is empty and warns that wealth is no substitute for what gives life real worth.
One may make himself rich in this world yet have nothing lasting, for at death he carries nothing away and his glory does not descend after him. Earthly riches kept for self hurt their owners and profit nothing in the day of wrath, and trusting in them and seeking them as the chief good is worship of money that ends in leaving it all behind. Making oneself poor yet having great riches means being poor in worldly goods yet possessing spiritual riches, which are faith, good works, and the Lord's blessing found in Christ, and those who aid the needy may be poor in worldly goods yet possess great riches because they can lead others to Christ. Those who accept Him become rich in faith, heirs of the kingdom, and heirs of eternal life. True riches are not measured by money or land, and a person with little wealth may be rich in contentment, freedom from debt and fear, honesty, duty to family and neighbors, and the respect of the community.
The verse describes lukewarm Laodicean commandment-keepers who are rich in the truths of the word of God and boast of glorious light from the book of God, yet have nothing because like misers they make a wrong use of those truths and do not enjoy their sanctifying power, leaving them poor and wretched and miserable and blind and naked. Those glorious truths held so long should inspire faith and holy living and nearness to God where His gentle Spirit anoints the eyes. Those who live for themselves and gather this world's goods may be counted rich now but will have nothing at the final settlement if they lack a title to eternal life, while those who seem poor in this world may possess the greater riches of eternal life as joint heirs with Christ.
Giving Gains Lasting Riches
In Christian giving appearances of wealth and poverty mislead, for generosity can seem to reduce one's means yet brings increase. To give away one's means does not make one truly poorer, for generosity is heaven's way to riches. Withholding in order to grow rich, by contrast, can lead to loss and poverty, while one who gives and lives as though poor may come to have great riches. Heavenly riches are not gained the way earthly riches are gained, for making oneself rich by selfish getting leaves one with nothing, while making oneself poor by giving wealth away to others leads to great riches. The world's way rests on love of self and selfish ownership, while the gospel way rests on divine love and makes a commonwealth possible where each rejoices that all others possess with him. Giving is the only way a selfish person can be made fit to be admitted safely into that perfect commonwealth and to possess true and lasting riches hereafter with no sorrow added, and this way is proved by Christ giving up all until He had nowhere to lay His head, becoming poor so that others might become rich through His poverty by following His steps and not merely by receiving what He gave.
Outward wealth and true riches are not the same, as is seen where one man with more land withholds time, tithe, and offerings and neglects worship and service, while another living on very little gives sacrificially and serves others. The generous man's self-denial, faithfulness, and service bring joy and help others join the church, showing that spiritual riches are the fruit of such a life. Those who live for themselves may seem rich in this world but have nothing of lasting value, while those who aid the needy may be poor in worldly goods yet possess great riches. Their true riches are spiritual, for they can lead others to Christ, and those who accept Him become rich in faith, heirs of God's kingdom, and heirs of eternal life.
The contrast also reaches covetousness as well as actual wealth, since worldly standards do not measure true riches and one who makes himself rich may possess nothing of lasting value. The very desire to become rich is itself wicked, while true riches are gained through God's grace. Using possessions and earnings to support gospel work prepares people for God's kingdom.