I AM Rich

BY REV. DORAL PULLEY

– John 13:29

Jesus Christ was not poor.  He had a treasurer. Judas Iscariot, the same disciple that betrayed him, also kept the money bag and the books for the ministry of Jesus Christ.  In biblical times, people who were poor had no need for a treasurer. The poor did not have much to keep record of and what they did have was used to meet their daily necessities such as food, clothing, shelter and taxes.

Jesus Christ had multiple streams of income. He received money from his trade, carpentry.  His father, Joseph, was a carpenter and carpentry was the family business (Matthew 13:55). Carpentry was a lucrative profession that required intelligence and skill.  He also received money from the investments that his disciples made as well as the contributions that they received from others such as Mary Magdalene (Mathew 26:9).  They had enough money in the treasury to take care of their needs and to help meet the needs of others.

Although Jesus Christ was not poor, he became poor so that he could identify with the poor and understand their plight. “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich (II Corinthians 8:9).”  Despite our differing outward conditions, we are one with all people. The more that we realize this truth, the more we will be able to help ourselves and others with developing a prosperity consciousness.  It all begins with affirming the truth, “I AM not poor. I AM rich.”