Jesus said that there will always be poor people among us. He was one of them, and so are many of His most beloved followers. Far from being the worst thing in the world, “sanctified poverty” actually has some distinct spiritual advantages which John Newton explains here. My abridged paraphrase of his letter preserves corresponding paragraphs.
“The Spiritual Advantages of Poverty”
1. My dear friend, since you are poor and I am not, it is a little embarrassing to write to you on the subject of poverty. It would be easy for me to give you all kinds of advice, recommending patience, gratitude, and other virtues. I could say that being saved and on your way to heaven is all that ultimately matters. Surely you would agree, but you might think I was being insensitive to your hardship, and only speaking about things with which I have no familiarity. However, as a pastor, I have the benefit of knowing and counseling many poor people, so perhaps you may find my thoughts on the subject to be helpful.
2. We should probably pity the ungodly rich even more than the ungodly poor. Both are like people who have lost their minds, but at least the poor lack the means to do as much harm. The rich have a much greater influence, as well as power to oppress and to wage wars for the sake of their reputation, extravagance, and pride. When we consider real Christians, the poor ones have some advantages over others. “God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith” (Jas 2.5). Very few of the rich, the wise, or the mighty are called by God (1 Cor 1.26). Of course God does not choose any because they are poor; He shows no partiality (Acts 10.34). Rather, as a rule with exceptions, it is just that poverty is better suited to show off the reality and power of His grace.
3. Sanctified poverty is truly honorable because in this we are more like the Lord Jesus Christ. He made Himself a fitting object of charity (Luke 8.3). The Apostles followed His example and sometimes suffered terrible deprivation. It would be legalistic to infer from this that being wealthy is a sin, because God blesses a few like the “most excellent Theophilus” (Luke 1.3; cf. Acts 23.26; 24.3). But we can see clearly that sanctified poverty is an honorable state in God’s sight.
4. Poverty also affords an opportunity for a more public display of God’s grace. Of course the rich believer also trusts in God, but his trials are not usually so visible to others. When preachers tell sinners that God is good in Himself, and not just for the blessings He bestows, who better proves the assertion than the poor, joyful Christians? They are delighting in God, smiling and praising Him with all their hearts, and thanking Him profusely though they have little in this world. Anyone who sees this and still continues in sin is very hard-hearted indeed!
5. Poverty is also spiritually safer, because it has less temptation to self-importance and an idolatrous clinging to the world. Spiritually-minded wealthy Christians feel the force of the apostle’s warning against being haughty and setting their hopes on the uncertainty of riches (1 Tim 6.17). From concern, poor Christians pity and pray for rich Christians. Wealth is spiritually dangerous. The poor do not face the same potential snares.
6. The poor have more spiritual comfort in two ways. First, their need occasions more tangible prayers along with their more obvious answers. They are less like the faithful prophet Obadiah in Ahab’s royal court and more like the faithful prophet Elijah fed by ravens in the wilderness. Oh the true stories of answered prayer from desperate situations! Behold the efficacy of prayer when the Red Sea parts, and also when the Father hears the cries of His poor children and provides for them!
7. Second, I have observed that the humble, believing poor experience, in general, a greater degree of inward comfort from the Lord. They enjoy a deep sense of His favor and love and gracious presence. I say this is usually more discernible in the poor because they have so little comfort from the world, so God is their comforter in a greater degree. In this state, they can eat even bread and water with more pleasure than any hedonist finds in luxurious, refined fare.
8. My friend, I know that you have found these things to be true in your own experience. The Lord has preserved and purified you through the things you have suffered. Be thankful for the privilege of illustrating the truth and power of His grace in the midst of this ungodly society.
9. I realize that you have your painful spiritual struggles, but most of them are shared by all Christians alike, even the wealthy ones. Remember that Jesus said, “One’s life [i.e., the happiness of it] does not consist in the abundance of his possessions” (Luke 12.15).
10. In a word, you are not poor, but rich. God’s promises are your inheritance. Heaven is your home. Angels are servants who protect you. The Lord Himself is yours. It is impossible that you could lack anything that is truly good for you at this time. If you really needed riches, God could give them to you as easily as daily bread. I hope you can say, cheerfully and sincerely, “What others value, I resign; Lord, ‘tis enough that thou art mine.”
11. And now by my prayer I commend you to Jesus our Savior, who, “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 9.8). Signed, JN.
—————-
The rich may fear poverty more than the poor. I still remember seeing impoverished Christians in Haiti rejoicing as Newton describes. This letter helps put things in proper perspective, wherever Providence has placed us. Ω