Question:  Dear Greg,

            Is there any evidence that suggests what kind of wealth Jesus Christ had while living here on earth?  I see so many people trying to find some kind of honor in being “poor”.  Shouldn’t we strive to do the best we can here on earth while adhering to sound biblical principles?

            Ronald

Answer:  Dear Ronald,

            There is very little evidence that would allow us to construct the kind of standard of living that Jesus would have “enjoyed” in his earthly life.  The emphasis of his ministry, however, was of humility over against what we tend to see as “status”.  He became poor that we might become rich—that is, he voluntarily gave up the wealth, power and privileges of heaven to become a human, and not a human born into wealth and power (which he could have)—as king of the Jews.  He was born instead to a working class family—in a humble environment, not in a palace or gated community.  This gives us some indication of his priorities.  This does not mean that Jesus did not visit with and dine with the rich and entitled, or that he was out of place with them.  But all indications are that he did not own land, he did not accumulate earthly possessions and wealth, etc.

            But your question is based upon an assumption that we should consider.  Jesus did not call us to follow him in every detail of his earthly life.  He called us in general to a way of life, to moral teaching he left and to a new covenant he gave to us and established in his blood.  But he did not say or indicate that we, as Christians, need to or should do everything exactly as he did.  We are not called, necessarily, to the same level of self-sacrifice, voluntary humility as he exhibited—for it would be impossible.  No human could ever give up what he did.  We are not called to go to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, to keep kosher in our dietary habits, to keep Jewish holy days—both those required under the old covenant and others added by tradition such as Hanukah, the feast of lights.  We are not required to fulfill the old covenant law—he did that on our behalf.  We do not need to wear a robe and sandals as he did, etc., etc.

            So the question of what level of standard of living did Jesus have or “enjoy” is moot if it is connected to some requirement or expectation for Christians today.  The New Testament makes it clear that wealth is not wrong, of and by itself.  Money is not an evil--it is a root of evil.  Money and possessions can possess us, but they need not do so.  Poverty, of and by itself, as you mention, is no virtue—and neither is wealth!

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht