God has enriched us Christian people with riches beyond our comprehending. He has given us Christ, His blood, death, resurrection, life, gospel preaching, sacramental gifts. If we possess all these things, and we do, how could we ever count ourselves poor or forsaken? We count ourselves poor either when we think that true riches are money, houses, cars, and fat stock portfolios, or when we do not treasure those things that are the true riches of the kingdom of Christ. We are like the rich man in the gospel story told by Jesus, who despised the beggar sitting at his door and ignored his need. Instead the rich man thought himself rich, without sharing all good things with the one who had need. How wrong he was in that delusion.

He had forgotten that God, who is truly rich, also gives most away to those who are in need. God never hoards or keeps for Himself the riches of creation or church. Look at the food we have every day on our tables; either in our kitchens or on the festal board of our church. The Lord has graciously and abundantly given us all that we need to live in this world and unto the next. He keeps giving over and over again, even to the ungrateful, the abundance of this world, just as a loving parent continues to feed a child who can do nothing but complain about the food set upon the family table. No one would stop feeding an ungrateful child. So also our heavenly Father, although hurt by our abuse and ungratefulness, graciously continues to set before us the richness of this world. We snatch it from His open hands only to grumble about our share, the wealth of others, or the poor quality of what He has given. This is to our shame. But feed us still He does.

Many people consider themselves to have received all of God's abundance when they are rich in money, live in the penthouse, have the latest designer fashions, or are the CEO of their company. They will be the best dressed people in hell. Such people are sunk in the deepest poverty because they have ignored the true richness that comes from God. This is poverty of spirit. You can dress it up in the most beautiful clothing, drive it around in the most opulent car, and keep it in the most stunning designer interior, but it is still just a filthy rag in comparison to the robe of righteousness that comes from Christ.

"We should learn this art, namely, to let the world glory forever in great riches, honor, and power. For these are indeed loose, uncertain, perishable wares that God lets men scramble for. It is a simple thing for Him to give to a scoundrel-who in turn blasphemes and slanders Him-a kingdom, a principality, or other honors and possessions on this earth. These are His chaff and His husks, with which He fills the bellies of His sows that He is about to slaughter (Lk 15:16). To His children, however, as David says here (Ps 23:2), He gives the genuine treasure. Therefore, as the dear children and heirs of God, we ought to glory in neither our wisdom, nor strength, nor riches, but in this, that we have the 'pearl of great value' (Mt 13:46), the dear Word, through which we know God, our dear Father, and Jesus Christ, whom He has sent (Jn 17:3). That is our treasure and heritage, and it is sure and eternal and better than all worldly possessions. Whoever has this treasure may let others gather money, live riotously, and be proud and haughty. Let him not be troubled by such things, although he is despised and poor in the eyes of the world. But let him thank God for His inexpressible gift (2Co 9:15) and pray that he may abide in it.

"It does not matter how rich and glorious we are here on earth. If we keep this treasure, we are exceedingly rich and sufficiently honored. St. Paul was an unworthy, miserable man on earth, and the devil and the world assailed him most violently. To God he was a dear, worthy man. He was so poor, too, that he had to provide for himself with the work of his hands. And yet, despite such great poverty, he was richer than the emperor in Rome, though he had no other riches than the knowledge of Christ, in comparison with which, he says: 'I count all things (nothing on earth is excluded) but loss and rubbish' (Phil 3:8).