WAS JESUS RICH?
I have heard two very notable preachers say that Jesus was rich… “why else would they have cast lots for His robe?” Well, let’s take a look at what the scriptures say about this: Psalm 22:18 “They divide my garments among them. And for my clothing they cast lots”. So, we see that the casting of lots for Jesus’ robe was in fulfillment of bible prophesy. I think that argument would be stronger if someone had paid a fortune for His robe. Casting lots was a way of determining who would get His robe, free.
Jesus had the power to do anything He wanted to do. He left heaven with all of its riches to come to earth to live a sacrificial life and to die. If Jesus had wanted to live in a palace with all the trappings of a king, He could have done so. He chose instead to live a life free of riches. We find this in many scriptures.
When it was time to pay taxes, He told His disciples to go fishing so they could find a fish with a coin sufficient to pay their taxes and His: Matthew 17:27 “Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.” If Jesus was rich, He would have had the money on hand to pay their taxes.
There is another scripture that speaks of the way Jesus lived: Matthew 8:20: “And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Here Jesus is showing that He did not have earthly riches. If He did, He would not have made this statement. We can think also of the rich young ruler whom Jesus told to sell all that He had, give to the poor and to follow Him. Matthew 19:21: “Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Jesus would have been setting a bad example, if He had riches and told him to sell what he had, to no longer be rich, then He could follow Him.
We can think also of when Jesus fed the multitude with the five loaves and two small fishes. Jesus being able to multiply whatever He had on hand, meant that there was no need for Him to store things up. There was no need for Him to have money stored up for He could create whatever He needed when the need arose.
While Jesus lived a life free of riches, it does not mean that He won’t make us rich. The bible tells us this in Proverbs 10:22 “The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.” The difference when God makes us rich is that we do not have the downside that can sometimes accompany being rich. When God makes us rich, we should have peace and not fear, joy and not anxiety, a clear conscience and not guilt. In order to make us rich, He opens the right doors, He gives us the necessary wisdom, He grants us favor, He leads and guides us. We must, however, never love riches. The bible warns against this.
Matthew 6:33: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Riches are a by-product of putting God first,