On Poverty

I have often wondered, especially recently, why Jesus lived the life of a pauper, and what that means for Christian spirituality today. I am awed by Him and inspired by another man who truly lived a life like Jesus. That man is Francis of Assisi. Francis followed Christ in that he actually left his life of wealth in pursuit (not mere happenstance, mind you, but genuine, bonafide pursuit) of his "woman" of choice, Lady Poverty. He claimed her as his bride, ever-faithful to her and always cherishing a blessed and joyous existence of destitution. I suppose to some, Francis was a nut-case; but to me, he is a hero.

Jesus said, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matt. 6:21). These words do not simply cut me to the quick; they haunt me in stealth like a predator stalking his prey. Where is my treasure? Where is my heart? And if I have treasure, what does that say about my heart? I am inclined to think that Francis was more controlled by the Spirit of God than most (certainly more than I), or at least knew more about genuine Christian living. Francis was simply not content with riches. I don't use content in the sense of being free from emotional attachment; indeed, such a definition is far too small. No, Francis' discontentment was an active outpouring of the soul through his actions. He did not simply abide by his circumstances, but rather adjusted his circumstances and behaviors to produce the result that he believed would bring the greatest honor and glory to God the Father and to Jesus Christ.

Amazingly, yet not surprisingly, Jesus did the same. Jesus had no home, although he did have a moneybag. Even then, however, he let the scoundrel of his lot keep it. Besides that, it seems most of the money was spent on the poor, anyway. The picture of Jesus in the Gospels and the picture of Francis in the hagiographies and more alike than they are disparate. This is disturbing to me, but perhaps not yet convicting.

For the most part, twenty-first century American evangelicalism would have me believe that money is morally neutral. After much debate and careful thought, I reject this belief, at least as it pertains to the heart of man and to my heart. Jesus taught that one "cannot serve both God and money." (Matt. 6:24) You either love one or the other, and whichever you love you will serve. So I suppose that if I had to chosse between the two, I would say poverty is better than wealth. I might even say that being poor is more godly than being rich and be justified by Scirpture in saying so. Such a view is extreme, to be sure, but I wonder...

I suppose self is really at the base of it all, which is true of all sin. How I love myself and lavish praise and glory and comfort and riches on me! How I must grieve the heart of God. Is it possible to be rich without being selfish, or should I say, idolatrous? I'm both. I suppose it is possible in the metaphysical world of ideological speculation, but only in that world, I think. The astounding witness of the lives of Jesus, Paul, Francis, and countless other generous saints show us that in this world - the world of real, fallen people - the teachings of Christ hold fast. It really is either God or money.