For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9

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I walked down the stairs and peered through the foyer to our Christmas tree, where the gifts I had carefully wrapped for our children hid beneath the bottom branches. Seemingly out of nowhere, a pang of guilt pierced my heart, and I stopped midstep. As I looked at the presents, memories of my childhood raced through my mind. In a split second, my brain processed what I was seeing before me with what was behind me in the faded memories of childhood, and a connection was made. Somewhere along the way, I began to believe that the number of gifts under the tree clearly indicated how much I loved my children. But there weren’t very many gifts under our tree—on purpose. From the start of our little family, we decided to keep the number of gifts limited in an effort to focus on what we believed to be the most important thing: Jesus. But here I stood in conflict. Would my children know how much I love them despite the limited number of gifts? And when did I begin to associate love with material things? 

Have you ever thought that money and material possessions just might make everything alright? These are not bad things in and of themselves, but our culture has instilled in us a belief that money and things are indicators of true happiness. And then we read 2 Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 

Think about it for a moment—King Jesus chose to be born as a vulnerable human baby. Leaving behind His heavenly Kingdom to join with us. To be with us. To become one of us. He came for us. He surrendered everything—His comfort, His power, His very life—so that we could gain eternal riches beyond measure. Through His poverty, we are made spiritually rich, heirs to an eternal Kingdom that will never fade away. His sacrifice is the greatest treasure, one that makes every earthly possession seem insignificant by comparison.

During a season in which we are inundated with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and holiday sale after holiday sale telling us we need more, we are beckoned by the anticipated cry of the Christ baby to consider what true wealth is. Jesus gave up all the riches of heaven to give us a treasure beyond measure (we are heirs to His Kingdom). This is true wealth and the greatest gift I could ever give my children is a life lived for Him and in Him. 

Next Steps

When  you consider the words true wealth, what comes to mind? There is no shame if Jesus wasn’t your first thought. Consider it an opportunity to invite Him in to those thoughts and help reframe your view.