We read of the Lord’s extreme poverty in 2 Corinthians 8:9 which says, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”  This show us that the Lord did not consider the riches of this world something to be desired.  The Lord Jesus said of Himself in Matthew 8:20, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”  He had no permanent home or sleeping quarters. 

The Lord’s poverty went way beyond physical poverty.  When on the cross dying for our sins, all those who loved Him, deserted Him.  We read prophetically of the Lord on the cross in Psalm 69:20, “Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.”  We also read in Psalm 88:18, “Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.”  So, on the occasion of His death, the Lord had no one there to sympathize with Him or offer words of comfort to Him.  All forsook Him. 

Then, the Lord Jesus suffered the harshest form of poverty.  On the cross, even God forsook Him.  We read in Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”  What a terrible degree of poverty when God turned away from the Lord Jesus.  Why did God forsake Him?  It was on the cross that the Lord Jesus bare our sins in His own body. (1 Peter 2:24).  We read of God in Habakkuk 1:13, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity…”  God could not look favorably on evil so when our sins were on the Lord Jesus, God turned away and forsook Him. 

Today, many so-called ministers of God love to have the attention of people. (Matthew 6:5).  Many love to gather wealth and objects that reveal their desire for great gain.  We read of these types of people in 1 Timothy 6:4-6, “He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain.”  These people seem to never be content.  Many of them want more money, huge houses, private jets, etc.  We are instructed to withdraw ourselves from such people.

We read this dire warning in 1 Timothy 6:10-12, “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”  This love of money reveals a heart that is concerned only about their own pleasures.  The Lord warns us to “flee these things.” 

The Lord tells us in Luke 10:7 that, “the labourer is worthy of his hire.”  This simply means that the Lord will supply the needs of those who seek to serve Him.  The servant may learn to live on very little money, but the Lord has promised to meet all our needs. The true servant will have His eyes on the Lord.  His heart will not seek riches but will seek to please His master.  (385.4)