“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 has 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.
Poverty
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. They may end the painful nature of the trial and are often pleaded in justification of unbelieving ways. But worldly wisdom is not the wisdom that comes down from above, nor is carnal stratagem after the pattern of the grace and truth which came by Jesus Christ. The contrivances of unbelief only cripple faith, and, sooner or later, bring dishonor on the name of the Lord. A sense of the grace of God in not having spared His own Son, but in having 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!
Prosperity
In earthly prosperity, if God be not hearkened to and obeyed, some may have painfully to learn that “riches make themselves wings; they fly away,” or their path may be beset with humiliations, 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? The 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 been drawn back again into the world, who seemed for a while to have run well in ways of separation from it, while others who began this new responsibility as God’s stewards have grown 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, dwells no good thing, and that we cannot bring forth fruit except we are abiding in our Lord Jesus. Nothing else can possibly preserve us in the path that glorifies God.
From Things New and Old