"the holy scriptures which are able
to make you wise unto salvation
through faith which is in Christ Jesus"
(II Tim. 3: 16)
In previous chapters we have spoken of what are the leading qualifications for, or criteria used to judge, elite status in the world. We observed that those qualifications became the framework for the apostle to delineate on true wisdom and knowledge, on true power, on true riches, on true nobility and birth privilege, etc.
We have spoken to some degree about these several areas where the saved have been graced and favored in conversion, and in living the Christian life, and superlatively in the resurrection and glorification of believers.
In the last chapter we enumerated Paul's comparisons and contrasts between those who are now of the elite of the world with those who have become children of God, believers in Christ, and who therefore will become the earth's ruling elite, under Christ, in the ages to come.
God has made sons and daughters, almost universally from the lower classes of humanity, and has designated them as his elect, his special friends, his dearly beloved. What higher status can there be than that?
We also looked at Paul's affirmation about how the Corinthian believers had been "enriched in everything" and lacked nothing in the area of special gifts and privileges, as compared to the world's elite. So, how does God's chosen, taken mostly from those not of the elite, compare in character, attributes, gifts, abilities, etc.?
Also, "where" will such a comparison lead us? Or, "where" will that leave the learned disputer, philosopher, and scribe? "Where" does Paul leave his opponents after his mighty discourse? We will be considering that in the next chapter or two.
We have spoken of how Paul affirms that God has rejected the worldly elite, their character, values, beliefs, practices, etc., along with their faulty measurement of themselves. Of the latter we have already referred to Paul's description of them in this regard, saying -
"For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." (II Cor. 10: 12)
Notice the irony and contradiction. The worldly elite, the Sophists, profess themselves to be the wisest of men, and yet they very unwisely measure themselves with an invalid measuring standard.
Reversal Of Fortunes
In being saved, and going to heaven at death, there is a great reversal of fortune. Likewise, in being lost and unsaved, and going to hell at death, is a great reversal of fortune. Jesus alluded to the latter in these words:
"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16: 26)
Then, in another instance the Lord Jesus spoke of the rich worldly wise fool in this manner:
"And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12: 16-21)
This is all in keeping with the well known fact that a man in death leaves whatever riches he has acquired in life to someone else. Said Job: "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there." (Job 1: 21) Solomon too chimed in on this fact, saying:
"There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt. But those riches perish by evil travail: and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand. As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit hath he that hath laboured for the wind?" (Ecc. 5: 13-16)
He also said this earlier:
"Then said I in my heart, As it happens to the fool, so it happens even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also is vanity. For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dies the wise man? as the fool. Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity." (Eccl. 2: 15-19)
Death, as someone has said, is "the great equalizer." But, if a man dies in his sins, without a savior, he goes to the place of eternal misery where he suffers the loss of all good. His wealth and greatness in life counts for nothing in Hell. He takes nothing with him, except his soul and its bad character. Jesus spoke of such reversals of fortune when he told of the death of a rich man and of a beggar.
"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and sees Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom." (Luke 16: 22-23)
In being saved, men who are poor, in both morals and possessions, become rich. They first become rich when converted, when Christ becomes one with the believer, they receiving then a foretaste, an earnest (or down payment) of the inheritance.
In the above story, we see reversal of fortune in both directions. He who was poor in life upon earth (the beggar Lazarus) became rich upon the soul's departure from the body and its entrance into Paradise. On the other hand, he who was rich in life upon earth became poor upon his soul's departure from the body and its entrance into Hades' torment.
Enriched In Wealth
We have spoken how believers, though poor in this world, are nevertheless even now "rich toward God" (Luke 12: 21), being rich in Christ. This endowment encompasses enrichment in personal qualities, good character, virtue, spiritual gifts, intellect, powers, etc. They are therefore "rich in faith," and "rich in good works," and rich in the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, etc. God "gives us richly all things to enjoy." (I Tim. 6: 17) To the Corinthians Paul says:
"Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours." (3: 21)
How much more wealthy can a creature be? Two times Paul says to the believer - "all things belong to you." This includes "the world" (cosmos or universe), and even "life and death"! In other words, in being born of God (a most noble birth!) believers become "joint heirs" (Rom. 8: 17) with Christ the Son of God, who is "the heir of all things." (Heb. 1: 2)
As regards the wealth and riches of the saints, we must both speak of it in respect to
1) what they now have in actual possession versus
2) what they are predestined yet to obtain in the day of redemption and resurrection (when the body is made immortal and endowed with immense powers, when the full inheritance is possessed)
As already intimated, what good is now received by believers from the Lord, in riches, power, abilities, talents, gifts, knowledge, wisdom, rights, privileges, joy, peace, happiness, etc., is in scripture both called a foretaste and an earnest.
On obtaining a foretaste, the apostle speaks of believers as being they who have been "once for all time enlightened" and have been "made partakers of the Holy Ghost." They are also they who "have tasted of the heavenly gift," and "have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come." (Heb. 6: 4-5)
The Greek word for "tasted" denotes taking and eating and does not precisely mean the same thing as our English word "taste" does today (See Vine). Yet, the idea of tasting is not totally excluded. Strong says it means "to taste, to try the flavour of," to "make trial of," and to "experience." To "taste death" (Mark 9: 1, etc.) in the bible means "to experience death." But, clearly the present eating or tasting that believers enjoy is not as superb as it will yet be when they are glorified.
Besides the present eating or tasting of "the good word of God," and of "the heavenly gift," they also "tasted of the powers of the world to come." Concerning the latter, there is much to occupy the mind! Clearly the present enjoyment of "the powers of the world to come" must be understood as a foretaste, what is experienced in a limited degree, because there are so many powers and abilities that have not yet been given. They are to be received when the saints receive their new bodies and when they are fully made into the image of the Son of God, when they are immortal and endowed with eternal life and youthful vigor. After all, he does speak of those powers as connected with "the world (age, aion) to come."
When one considers the future powers of the glorified sons and daughters of the Lord, he will see how they are truly destined for elite status in the kingdom of God. But, we will enlarge upon the idea of power and might in the next chapters when we compare the powers of the present worldly elite with the destined power of believers who have come from the poorer working classes. Not only are believers enriched in treasures and possessions, but they are "enriched in everything," including powers and abilities, wisdom and knowledge, etc.
On believers being given an "earnest" we note these words from the apostle (most are from the Corinthian epistles):
"Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts." (II Cor. 1: 22 and in 5:5)
"After that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (Eph. 1: 13-14)
According to Strong, the Greek word translated "earnest" means "money which in purchases is given as a pledge or downpayment that the full amount will subsequently be paid."
Thus, when it comes to the riches of the saints we say that we have now an earnest, experiencing enrichment in mind and spirit, and in peace and contentment, etc., yet knowing that "the full amount" is for "the age to come."
In the next chapter we will look at the other criteria for being truly elite, besides riches.
"remember the LORD your God: for it is he that gives you power to get wealth"
(Duet. 8: 18)
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