Jesus was a pauper you know. He just didn’t have any money. Once He began His ministry we have no record that He ever was employed. He had to depend on the gratuities of others.

Now we need to ask ourselves, why should God, become man in Jesus, have to live His life here on earth in poverty? I think it would be well to look into this.

I think we can safely say that Jesus’ poverty was by choice and not by chance. Of course, this is incredible. You see we are told that He was rich. Can you imagine the wealth of His riches? He is the Monarch of heaven, the King of all creation, Master of the universe – ten million angels wait on his every beck and call. He sits on a throne that surpasses in beauty and profusion of opulence any that mankind corporately could ever build. He controls the destiny of men - the wealth of the universe is His.

But He chose, mind you chose, to become poor! Have you ever tried to downsize – to lower your standard of living? It is the hardest, most painful thing in the world. Some years ago a family came to me for help. The husband had begun a business in the flourishing oil business. Almost overnight he became a millionaire – at least on paper. They lived in a huge house, drove very expensive cars, enjoyed the services of a cook and maid. In other words they lived the life they had found.

In coming to me they were asking how to handle all of this wealth – they didn’t want it to destroy them. They were sincere, committed Christians, but caught up in the materialism of the moment. They thought it would never end.

But it did! The oil bust hit with a passion. Many lost all, and this man was one of them. Almost overnight he lost everything, house, cars, maids – everything. In fact, at one point he was forced on welfare. It was shattering. It was far more difficult to work through this situation than the previous.

But their poverty was by chance and not by choice. The Bible tells us that Jesus became poor that we might become rich! He left the immense wealth behind, by choice and took upon Himself the form of a man, by choice so He might impart to us, by choice an inheritance in His wealth.

Incredible! The richest person in all the universe became a pauper, that we paupers might become princes and princesses. What a God we have!