“As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” – 2 Corinthians 6:10
My best friend throughout childhood sang in the Ozarkians Quartet. One of the songs I’ll never forget hearing him sing was called, “I’m A Poor Rich Man”. It is a song every Christian can identify with–God has no poor children. And,as I’ve said so many times, “Understanding who you are and what you have as a result of the person and work of Christ is key to everything in the Christian’s life”. I recently wrote a Morning Manna article entitled “Possession and Possessor”, based on Lam. 3:24 “The LORD is my portion”. The result of having the LORD as your portion is expressed in the text for this message—“possessing all things”. Commenting on this thought in 1840,James Smith wrote:
“The Lord’s family are generally poor; men may look at them as having nothing valuable, important, or calculated to make them happy; but in reality they possess all things, because God is theirs. Our God has said, “I am their inheritance,” and we say, “Thou art my portion, O Lord.”
His eternity is the date of our happiness; His unchangeableness, the rock of our rest; His omnipotence, our constant guard; His faithfulness, our daily security; His mercies, our overflowing store; His omniscience, our careful overseer; His wisdom, our judicious counsellor; His justice, our stern avenger; His omnipresence, our sweet company; His holiness, the fountain from which we receive sanctifying grace; His all-sufficiency, the lot of our inheritance; and His infinity, the extent of our glorious portion.
This is the blessedness of the people of the Lord: they have God for their God, and all His perfections engaged to make them blessed. O love the Lord! Live upon the Lord! Glorify God in the day of visitation! Make Him your portion and everlasting all!”
“To us the privilege is given
To be the sons and heirs of heaven;
Sons of the God who reigns on high,
And heirs of joys beyond the sky:
Oh, may our conduct ever prove
Our filial piety and love.”
For those who have never heard the song I have included the lyrics:
“I’m a poor rich man, yes, I’m a poor rich man.
Oh you see it really happened to me, I’m a millionaire.
I know that I am poor but I’ve got a lot more
Than many rich folks that I know.
I’ve got a home in the sky that money couldn’t buy,
And I’m a poor rich man.
We usually judge a man by the clothes that he wears,
By the car he’s ridin’ in.
And you can usually tell if he’s doin’ very well by the house he’s livin’ in.
But I am here to say that it don’t work that way
With everybody I know.
Because I just got acquainted with some poor rich folks
A little while ago
I’m a poor rich man, I’m a poor, poor rich man.
Oh you see it really happened to me, I’m a millionaire.
I know that I am poor but I’ve got a lot more
Than many rich folks that I know.
I’ve got a home in the sky that money couldn’t buy,
And I’m a poor rich man.
When a man is rich with this world’s goods
He’s usually got a lot of friends.
They all want to try to live so high
When they know that it’s a sin.
But even if I could, I don’t believe I would
Want the riches of this old world.
And when it’s time to go, I’ll be glad to know
That I’m a poor, poor rich man.
I’m a poor rich man, I’m a poor, poor rich man.
Oh you see it really happened to me, I’m a millionaire.
I know that I am poor but I’ve got a lot more
Than many rich folks that I know.
I’ve got a home in the sky that money didn’t buy,
And I’m a poor rich man.”
