ENRICHED

While you are ENRICHED in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God – 2 Corinthians 9:11

To be ‘enriched’ is to be blessed. This includes but is not limited to material or financial blessings. On one hand, to enrich is to make wealthy or wealthier. On the other hand, it means to improve or enhance the quality or value of something or someone; that is, to add value. The word “enrich” derives from “riches” which denotes: abundance, wealth, or surplus supply of our needs; whatever may promote our comfort, welfare or fulfilment. Basically, there are two kinds of riches: true, heavenly riches and false, earthly riches. The latter are deceitful, uncertain, and not to be trusted: “He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage (Pro.11:28; Eccl.2:1-6).  Paul wrote to Timothy: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1Tim.6:17). God truly delights in enriching us, so that we can both enjoy and become agents of enrichment to others!

God is not against His children possessing material or financial riches, as long as they align with or fulfil His positive purposes in our lives. He actually “gives us richly all things to enjoy” (1Tim.6:17b). Some people wrongly assume that the Christian faith is a drab and boring endurance exercise from the cross to the grave! That’s far from the truth. Knowing Christ is an exciting adventure of Redemption. You can enjoy knowing, serving, and walking with God. You can be “enriched in everything” (2Cor.9:11). The gospel is the means of our highest enjoyment and eternal welfare. However, much more important than material riches, but often less celebrated, are the Riches of Redemption. These are the true, faithful, never-failing, and eternal Treasures. They are the vast, abundant, wonderful blessings which the Gospel has conferred (Eph.1:3). These are not subject to moth, rust and thieves (Mt.6:19-20). Our redemptive package in Christ is full of riches – the “true riches” (Lk.16:11).

Jesus came to give us the enriched life: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jh.10:10b). According to the scriptures, true riches include the following key dimensions of divine enrichment:

Riches of His grace:  “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the RICHES of His GRACE…that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding RICHES of His GRACE in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephe.1:7; 2:7).

Riches of His glory: “that He would grant you, according to the RICHES of His GLORY, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16).

Riches in Glory: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His RICHES in GLORY by Christ Jesus” (Phil.4:19). This was written concerning Moses: “Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:…” (Heb.11:26).

Riches of His goodness: “Or do you despise the RICHES of His Goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” (Rom.2:4). The LORD once introduced Himself to Moses thus: “I will make all MY GOODNESS pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you…” (Exo.33:19a)…..,22; 34:6; Psa.107)

Riches of Wisdom and Knowledge: “O the depth of the RICHES both of the WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Rom.11:33).

Unsearchable Riches of Christ: “To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph.3:8).

The new birth is a re-connection to the divine nature so that in all dimensions, you can stop living an impoverished life. When you are connected to the realms of divine enrichments, you have a new order of life – you walk in divinity and royalty, enjoy affluence, and command influence on earth! Begin to enjoy the fullness of the riches of grace, goodness, glory, wisdom, and knowledge, in Jesus precious name, Amen!