2 Corinthians 6:10

GOD’S INSTRUMENTS

‘Poor, yet making many rich.’

2 Corinthians 6:10

An instrument is valued for what it accomplishes, and not for its accidental richness in material. A steel pen or quill that will write well is better than a gold one which will not write at all; a poor reed or pipe that gives music than a stately and costly structure that only looks like an organ. We are meant to be instruments in God’s hand, and our worth is measured by the work we do.

I. The casket may be poor, and yet contain the costly jewel; the cart may be rude, and yet bear a valuable burden; the paper may be coarse, and yet have written on it great news. And so we may in spite of poverty be of signal use in the world. Socrates dressed in the plainest garb and lived on the poorest fare, and yet taught philosophers and kings; the Apostles were poor fishermen, and yet turned the world upside down; Christ Himself was a humble carpenter, and yet has enriched the world with wisdom and purity and love and immortal hope. Poverty leaves you, at least, with a heart that can pity, a tongue that can instruct and comfort and bless, a hand that can be gentle and helpful, whole treasures of spiritual wealth which can ‘make many rich.’

II. Our poverty may be necessary to our enriching of our fellow-men.—Our poverty may be like the lowly craft that are used for running up shallow rivers and creeks. We can have access to people and places which rich men cannot reach. Our contentment, sweetness of spirit, etc., will shine all the more brightly as a jewel, having poverty for its foil. Christ became poor that we through His poverty might be rich. So, in some sense, we must all do, whether we are poor or rich, if we are truly to serve and enrich our fellow-men. If the foundation-stones are to bear up the tower, they must not insist on being seen themselves; if the tree is to be laden with heavy fruit, it must bend its head; if the tongue is to bless, it must speak low and sweet; if the heart is to comfort by true sympathy, it must stoop and share others’ burdens.

Be content to be nothing that Christ may be all; to be a lowly instrument in His hand for serving and enriching your fellow-men.