GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XVIIIssue 39
Published occasionally for Zion's mourners
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12::12-13

ENRICHED BY HIM

That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 1:5-7

There is probably not a person alive who has not fantasized about what they would do if they were suddenly made wealthy in this world’s goods. The amount of money that it would take to fulfill that fantasy would vary from person to person according to their present station and circumstances. A homeless person living on the streets would consider himself “rich” at a much lower level than the man who is already able to meet all of his obligations and sustain a presently comfortable lifestyle. Yet there are very few in this world, regardless of their position in society who would not like to have more than they presently possess. I once heard of a wealthy farmer who was buying up a lot of land, who was asked if he wanted all of the land in the county. His reply was that he only wanted what was next to his.

Man is seldom satisfied with what he has and even when he is, he most often fails to regard how he came to possess it and what it was given to him for, deriving his satisfaction in what he has rather than in the ONE who gave it to him. We are reminded of this by the LORD, “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)

It is the natural bent of men to seek this world’s goods and it is totally contrary to that nature for him to seek those things of that Kingdom which passes not away. In order to demonstrate this contrast the LORD said, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mar 8:36-37) Paul set forth the example of a man who has been caused to see the value of those things which are eternal as they are compared with the things of this world. “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Php 3:7-9)

The fleshly “gain” of which he spoke is not limited to “money”, but is found in anything which is of this temporary world which men might value. James describes the glorious blessing of the sons of GOD, which makes the poor of this world rich for their benefit, and makes the rich, poor for the same purpose. This can only occur in the kingdom of GOD. “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.” (Jas 1:9-11) Both rich and poor, alike, are taught the SOURCE and extent of their blessings, which are found in CHRIST alone.

Thus, we read Paul’s words to the Corinthians as he describes the true riches of the Kingdom of GOD. “in every thing ye are enriched by him.” The brother who is lacking in this world’s goods is enriched by the gift of grace which satisfies his needs with that which is from above. Those who possess many things in this world, if they are taught by the SPIRIT, are enriched as they are made to count their possessions as worthless, apart from those true riches which only HE can bestow. The common denominator in this transaction and its results, is the work of CHRIST.

The sons of GOD are “enriched by him.” Just as surely as HE causes the rain to fall on the just and the unjust according to HIS purpose, so to does HE administer HIS “enrichment” upon HIS children for their good and to accomplish HIS will. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom 12:3) Because of this, there is neither a place of boasting in an abundance of spiritual enrichment nor a place of complaint for those who might be called “weaker brethren”.

The “strong” are made so for the good of the body, even as the “weaker” are so as well. Regardless of the gifts given to the brethren, the purpose in the giving of them is that the whole body might be edified together and built up in the most HOLY FAITH. “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” (Rom 12:5) “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (i.e; the whole). For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” (1Cor 12:7-13)

Paul says that we are “enriched by HIM,in all utterance, and in all knowledge.” “Utterance” is the ability to speak what is necessary. Even as the LORD comforted HIS disciples with HIS promise to give them words to speak in the courts. “But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.” (Mar 13:11) This principle has an application among the saints as well. Often, many who fancy themselves as “preachers and teachers” think that every word they say is true, because of the amount of study which they invest. This is not the case, for all men are prone to err, regardless of their preparation. But this is certainly true, that, every true word that is spoken is the gift of GOD and is sent to accomplish HIS will, for the edification of those whom HE loves.

How can any of us “know” anything, except that the LORD should “enrich” us with “all knowledge. HE has not promised that we shall ever know “all things”, either in this world or that to come. Yet we are given to know “all” things which are needful, and nothing is withheld from the sons of GOD which they “need”. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Php 4:19) “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2Cor 9:8)

All of this is done in the body of CHRIST that HE might be glorified and “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph 5:27) “Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God. (2Co 9:11-12)

mam