For Your Sake, He Became Poor

Introduction

Last Sunday morning during the Lord’s Supper talk, Daniel made a really good point. Shocking, isn’t it?

No, he’s actually a very good Bible student, and so I wasn’t surprised at all. And always do I give props to someone who provides a good sermon starter for me. And so I want to go back to that proverb that he quoted and refresh your memory. Always good to do that, a verse that’s probably not on the tip of your tongue. The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave. And that got me to thinking about how Jesus provides our collateral, and we become his slaves. Very good talk given by Daniel. And I immediately thought of 2 Corinthians 8 and verse 9. This is a verse that I would like you to have committed to memory, if it is not already. It is a spectacular statement in 2 Corinthians, especially as it relates to motivation for giving to the Lord, which I guess we’re going to come back to that in just a little bit in this lesson.

This verse we could spend the rest of our time this morning talking about because of all of its implications and how rich and full the verse is.

Oh, what a dissent it was. So thankful to God that he indeed did descend for us. Though he was rich in the presence of God, basking in the glory of being God and all that attends to God’s presence in heaven, though he was rich. For your sake he became poor, as Paul would explain in Philippians 2, taking upon himself flesh, being made in the likeness of men in the form of a servant, and humbled himself, became obedient even unto death and death on a cross. That for your sake he became poor, that you, and here’s the really good stuff for us this morning, that you through his poverty might become rich. And Tom was alluding to that concept even this morning. So I want to talk to you a little bit about this idea of becoming Christ’s slave.

Now, obviously, there’s some New Testament passages that talk about that. One might be popping into your mind right now, and that is, okay, maybe not. Romans 6. Romans 6, and we’re going to get there, but not yet. About being slaves to Christ. But I think the whole concept, as I thought about this last Sunday and through the week, our whole concept of being a slave to Christ is a little bit lost on us, and I want us to appreciate it. Because in the United States of America, considering our past history, when we think of slavery, we think of a slavery based upon race. All sorts of problems related to that, of course, in our nation’s history, and reside with us to this present day in attitudes about race that we hear about in politics in the national media all the time.

People do hideous things as a result of the color of someone’s skin. And so when we think of just the concept of slavery, our mind most naturally gravitates as Americans to race based upon skin color. While that wasn’t necessarily foreign to biblical times, that was not the more common. It was atypical, we might say, to the more common slavery of biblical times, with which first century audiences would have been more familiar, and that is an indebtedness based on financial things. A financial indebtedness that caused you to become someone’s slave to work off that debt. Now that was a more common kind of slavery in the first century. But whenever someone is in that subservient role, there is always the potential for abuse. And I want to talk to you about that briefly.

Whenever one wields power over another, the potential for abuse and mistreatment always exists. When we look at the authority that the government has over us, for instance, or even, as some of you have experienced, our employers, even husbands in the husband and wife relationship, as they have been placed in a position of authority, or even elders are admonished not to lord it over the flock. And so anybody who wields authority, and if you are in one of those positions, whether it be in the local church, in the home, in the workplace, in government, not slave ownership in our particular culture, but in any position of authority, there is always the potential for abuse and mistreatment. Masters are thus encouraged to be respectful in their treatment of slaves.

In Ephesians chapter 6, to not be threatening, knowing that both their master and yours, you have someone who wields authority over you. Don’t forget that. Their master and yours, the one ultimately to whom we give an account, and there is no partiality with him. And in Christ, of course, there is neither bond nor free, Galatians chapter 3 and verse 28. And so slaves themselves are admonished in these circumstances to be righteous in their behavior, render good service, not eye service, not just when the master is watching. And he says, knowing that in verse 8, whatever good thing each one does, he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. So the good things that we do, whether it be to satisfy a debt, working for another, or the good that we do in our circumstances that enhances the lives of others, that is a sacrificial kind of serving, understand that the Lord sees that, and he will reward that.

And so I want to talk to you about this morning, 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 9, that for your sake he became poor, and what slavery to Christ means. We’re going to talk about your role. If you are indeed a child of God, you have become a slave to Christ and what that means. And we’re going to talk about these things from the standpoint of what I want to call slavery benefits. No, that sounds like a misnomer, doesn’t it? Benefits to occupying this position of slave, slavery benefits, that just sounds odd. But as we shall proceed and talk about three things in regard to our slavery to Christ, perhaps we will see and appreciate it better. Now again, it’s hard for us to identify. You know, perhaps if we were African American, perhaps we could appreciate culturally the concept of slavery in our nation’s past a little bit more.

1. The Impeccable Character of the Slave Owner

But even if there was some kind of slavery today, and we occupied that position, again, perhaps we could appreciate this subservient position even more than we do. So I want us to try to wrap our minds around slavery to another and set that in contrast to slavery to Christ. And one thing leaped out at me when Daniel mentioned that verse and talked about Christ paying our collateral. And that is in this particular relationship of Jesus being our master and us being his slave, the incredibly impeccable character of the slave owner. If you are going to be enslaved to someone, this person is ideal in contrast to any other slave owner who has ever existed. So often we decry the lack of genuine concern from the one who wields authority over us.

I mean, a boss who gives the person their walking papers right before Christmas. Well, thank you very much. You obviously care about me and my family. You know, we wonder about that employer’s real concern for us. And look, it’s usually not about you as a person, it’s about dollar size. And about them making money as a company. Oh, we’re going to have to axe 3,000 workers. These people have families. They have people who depend upon them. But that’s business. That’s how it works. Wouldn’t it be great if your employer and your bosses and the CEOs all really cared about their employees? That’s one of the things I did appreciate as I watched a few shows of undercover boss. That the bosses seemed to come to appreciate the little people that are on the front lines of his company that really make his company what it is.

Isn’t it awesome to be enslaved to the most perfect person who has ever lived? And here’s the thing about it. God would have, and I love this verse, and I mention it all the time because it’s so incredible, 1 Timothy 2 and verse 4, God would have all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. He doesn’t just care about people, he cares about all people, for God so loved the world. John 3 16 that he gave his only begotten Son. He wants everyone to be saved. He’s not willing that any should perish. You can quote that one right. 2 Peter 3 and verse 9. He’s not willing that any should perish and account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation, verse 15, but that all should come to repentance.

Now, understand, repentance is a big part of our response to Christ and becoming his slave. And Romans 6 clearly indicates that. Repentance is not optional, as we’ve been talking about, some change will be required, but still. That’s what he wants for us, and we would then become his indebted slaves and look to whom we are enslaved. And so I want to bring out a verse that I think summarizes the benefits of having Christ as our owner. And it’s in the verses that Mike was talking about from Matthew 28 in our class when he says, and the material actually goes on to talk about this that we have in our yellow folders. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age. Isn’t that incredible?

We have his, we might say, 24 7 assistants as his slaves. I mean, that’s pretty abnormal, isn’t it? That 24 7, Jesus cares about my circumstances, my conditions, my pain, my need, and my overall well-being. There is no one more concerned for your well-being in the world. And he is near. Paul says in Philippians chapter 4 and verse 5, and thus we can be anxious for nothing. There’s a lot of anxiety in our world. A lot of concern about how the bills are going to be paid, about how I’m going to mend this relationship, how I’m going to survive this pain or these circumstances that I’m in. And yet Philippians 4 and verse 6, being built on the fact that the Lord is near, says, don’t be anxious for that.

In everything, with prayer, with supplication. And thanksgiving, don’t forget in the midst of your troubling circumstances that are causing you anxiety, what God has already provided for you with thanksgiving. Let your requests be made known unto God. I mean, he’s always there. You know, sometimes in this relationship of owner to slave, the owner is not always available for you. The one wielding authority doesn’t always give you an audience. Our owner gives us an audience whenever we need it, whenever we want it. And the peace of God, and this really gets me to point three, and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. That’s what the slave owner does for us. Wouldn’t you rather have him as your owner than Satan and sin, which he promotes, who will so readily toss you to the curb when they’re done with you?

We could talk this morning in Luke 15 about the prodigal son predicament. Everyone who rejects this relationship that I’m talking about this morning, the relationship of Christ and being his slave. Everyone who rejects that relationship ultimately finds themselves, listen to me carefully, in the prodigal son predicament.

Luke 19, or Luke 15 rather, in verse 14, it says, and he began to be in need. Oh, you may feel great right now. You may not feel you need anything that the Lord is offering. In fact, you may think the whole thing is bogus. But one day, you are going to be exactly where the prodigal son is. He began to be in need. And if you don’t realize that until the day of judgment, that will be way too late. And let me tell you this when you serve sin and you serve Satan and his purpose is for you, there’s not going to be any hand holding in hell where people will reside with the devil and his angels. There will not be any comfort to the choice that you’ve allowed something else besides Jesus, the incredible, impeccable character, as he owns us.

2. The Blessed Life of Enslavement to Christ

There will not be anything comparable to that will give you any solace in eternal torment. The second observation that I want to make, not only is Jesus as our slave owner one of impeccable and incredible character, what about what we receive as his slaves, the blessed life of enslavement to Christ. And this is where I really want to hope to change our perspective this morning, because I think sometimes we look at this and we say, wait a minute, are you talking about self-denial here and sacrifice and diligence and service and constant worship and study? And I would suggest, which is not a problem, if you clearly see the object of the one we worship. If we clearly see who it is that we’re indebted to.

Yep, but those things are taking, they’re taking away, no, they’re not taking away anything from us. They are instead giving to us rather generously, rather lavishly, this relationship is providing for me. And that’s really the point of Romans chapter 6. And again, the whole context, finally, I got to Romans chapter 6. The whole context is talking about what it means to be in Christ, and even so consider yourself dead to sin but alive to God in verse 11. And then he says this in verse 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey. Either of sin resulting in death, that doesn’t sound too good, or of obedience resulting in righteousness.

Can you say this? But thanks be to God, that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Look, it’s a two-fold choice. There isn’t a third, fourth, or fifth option. It is either slaves of sin or slaves of righteousness and slaves of Christ. And he says, I’m speaking in human terms, as I’ve been doing in this lesson, because of the weakness of your flesh, for just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness. See how empty that is. So now present your members as slaves to righteousness resulting in sanctification. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness, but what benefit?

Oh, there’s our word, slavery benefits. Therefore, what benefit were you then deriving? What were you receiving from the things of which you are now ashamed? Don’t be tempted to go back to that lifestyle. There was nothing there worth having. Oh, but sometimes we are convinced otherwise. What benefit were you deriving from those things of which you are now ashamed? And then this, he says, the outcome of those things is death. Spiritual separation from God. And they led to our physical deaths in the first place. But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God. Okay, there it is. Slaves to righteousness, slaves to Christ, slaves to God, and freed from sin, you derive your benefit. Again, thinking of slavery in terms of benefit, resulting in sanctification.

That is, you have been set apart to the glorious purposes of the Lord. You are saints in Christ. That word sanctification and saint is the same idea. You have been set apart now for the Lord’s superior purposes for your life. And that’s a benefit. That’s where we find true identity and purpose. Results in sanctification and the outcome. Not death, which was the outcome of that other slavery, but the outcome ultimately of eternal life for the wages of sin is death. And the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So somebody said, okay, now I’m not feeling it. I want you to specifically spell it out. What are the enslavement benefits of which you speak? The blessed life of enslavement to Christ.

Well, let’s just start right at the top. Fellowship with God. That’s one thing that is awesome that you receive. We were talking about that under point number one in the impeccable character of our God. Fellowship with God, fellowship with his people, assistance, assurance. How about the peace that we read in Philippians chapter 4 and verse 7?

The answer to every ill and every troubled relationship that you will ever undergo in this life. Oh, the ills may not go away. The relationship may not be mended. Because a relationship takes more than one part. But in every circumstance, this is one of the things that I marvel at in regards to New Testament instruction all the time is that in every circumstance in life, there is a prescription, there is a principle for me to pursue in that matter. I have a lamp unto my feet. No matter what the situation is, no matter how strained or broken the relationship is, my behavior is clearly spelled out. My response to this circumstance is clearly delineated. And so, in the midst of every trial, in the midst of every pain, I am given instruction as to how to respond best.

3. The Exalted Consequence of Indebtedness to Him

Even if ultimately that situation does not become what I had hoped. Even if it’s never repaired, even if it’s never fixed, even if I lose my life and health prior to that, I am comforted by the fact that I know what to do, I know who to serve, and I know what the outcome is going to be. One of the blessings of Zion, as God intended, as we talked about last Sunday evening. So and sighing will flee away. And I somebody said, but I still cry. Yes, we still cry. But we can rejoice in the Lord always. That’s the idea. There is always a reason to rejoice when you have Christ as your owner and when you exist to serve already seen in Romans 6, the third point, I want to talk to you about the exalted consequence of indebtedness to him.

You know, when you’re indebted to someone else as their slave, and the debt is paid, you’re done. You’re set free. All is forgiven. But that’s the end of it. You see, the nature of slavery to Christ is different. Because at the end of it’s not just the debt that is paid, but you become rich. I thought that’s where Tom was going with Smyrna. Because that’s what he said of them. He said, You are rich. He wasn’t talking about their bank accounts. He wasn’t talking about the palaces in which they lived in Smyrna. He’s talking about everything that they possessed in Christ. And he said, You are rich. And Laodicea, as destitute as they were, he said, why don’t you ask for me? Why don’t you ask gold from me?

I can give you gold. I can make you rich is the idea. I can give you Isaab for your eyes. A lot of my sermons are about that. Let’s get out the Lord’s Isaad and see our lives and our circumstances the way we need to see them. He says, You ask me, I’ll give you gold, I’ll give you clean garments, and I’ll give you Isaac. We need the things that emanate from the Lord. Laodicea could be fixed. You are rich. All things belong to you, Paul said to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians chapter 3. Let no one deceive you. The kind of wealth Jesus makes available to us is hard for our minds to fathom. That’s why I’ve always liked 1 Timothy chapter 6 when it says, instruct those who are rich in this present world.

Don’t be conceited. Or to fix your hope on the uncertainty of those riches. But on God. Fix your hope instead on God. Isn’t this magnificent? Though we are, as Tom said, unprofitable servants. Unworthy slaves, the New American Standard Version says. That’s what we are. Even when we’ve done all that we’ve been commanded to do, we could work tirelessly the rest of our lives. And our condition before God is still unworthy slaves. Unprofitable servants. And yet, fix your hope on God. Who richly underline this? Richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Verse 19, storing up for themselves the treasures, underline that, the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that you may take hold of that which is life indeed.

That we really buy into point number three. Or even points number one and two.

Or the next wonderful Star Wars movie that comes out. It is God who provides incredibly more than all of those trinkets. We could probably be nauseated by people that we could say flaunt their wealth. You know, they’re rich, they have so much materially, and it’s like the direct TV commercial that I’ve loved. Opulence, I have, I have it. Opulence, they have it. It’s written all over them. The house that they live in, the car that they drive, the clothes they wear, the places they go, they are flaunting their wealth. May I suggest to you that there is a sense in which we as Christians need to be flaunting our wealth. That’s what we need to be showing the world. And if we’re looking at this and treating this like it’s drudgery, it’s slavery, I don’t really want to do it, but I have to do it, then we’re missing it.

Conclusion

That’s not it. We need to be conveying to our friends and family and neighbors that we have something extraordinary. That’s how we do the work of evangelism. We possess true wealth. And yet sometimes we pour mouth our circumstances in Christ. If we could just focus on these two words Blessing abundance. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. Are you truly rich in Christ as one of his slaves? I’m extending the invitation. Yes, it’s an invitation to come and have your sins cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, but even more, it is an invitation to come and be wealthy, to be rich in Christ.

Embrace the riches while there’s time and opportunity. Let’s say in a second.