Testimony of a poor rich man!

I’m a poor rich man!

Ok, I must begin with a personal confession.  I have never been what many call a “money” person.  I appreciate what money can do, but it is/was just not my thing.  It is not that I would have minded having more, but it seemed that my priorities were always elsewhere.  In addition, the occasional times when I became pre-occupied with possessions were disasters.  Therefore, I think it important to let my readers know my template for writing this hub.

My name is Pastor Walt.  God called me early to be a pastor.  As a youth I felt it would be nice to pastor a large uptown church, but every time I prayed for leading it seemed that I would accept a small congregation, and most of these did not pay a full salary.  To add to that, most often God wanted me to try to be full time in part time churches.  As a result, I was always just a little above the poverty level.  My family was forced to be frugal; we took few vacations, we chose a life style that few people would ever choose.

I am now partly disabled and I wonder why I am in this vein while other fair far better.  At least that is the way it appears!  As I pray, I hear the warming words from my Beloved Savior, “Remember, you are a poor rich man!”

I am reminded of the words of an old song,

We tend to judge a man
By the clothes he wears
Or the car he's ridin' in
We can usually tell
If he's doin' very well
By the house he's livin' in
I'm here to say
It don't work that way
With some people that I know
I just got acquainted with some poor rich folk
A little while ago

and the Chorus

I'm a poor, poor rich man
Oh you see it really happened to me
I'm a millionaire
I may seem poor but I got a lot more
Than any rich folk I know
Got a home in the sky
Money can't buy
I'm a poor rich man

If anyone knows the rest of the words or the music of this song, please let me know.  I would like to include it in this hub.

• In order to serve God in my ministry I had to be frugal.  I was not perfect; and I was not greedy; I gave my tithes; I gave offerings better than most of my church folks; I led by example.
• I went on few vacations, but spent that time with my family doing family things.
• I watched my credit so as not to leave a bad report of me or my church.
• I gave often; I planted my seeds spiritually and cheerfully!
• I rejoiced when others prospered!
• I prayed for the prosperity of my church.
• Everywhere I went I continued to build.
• I’m a poor rich man!

• It is Sunday; my adult son and daughter are here; we all join hands and pray over dinner.  I’m a poor rich man!
• My son is graduating from the University of Tennessee this year with no student debt!  I’m a poor rich man!
• My daughter is working for our local paper and she is a recent graduate of LeeUniversity with no student debt. I’m a poor rich man!
• It is midnight, and I join hands with my beloved Christian wife; we pray that my son will find a job in God’s service.  I’m a poor rich man!
• I visit my mom and dad this week and we pray.  They are both elders in the church.  I’m a poor rich man!
• We visit my wife’s mom, and we pray.  She is an elder in the church.  My wife’s father has recently passed on to be with Jesus.  He was a retired pastor.  I’m a poor rich man!

• I am a kidney transplant survivor; God made my wife and I compatible in many ways.  She gave me her kidney as a Christmas present 6 years ago!  I’m a poor rich man!
• When I was sick with failing kidney, I opened my wallet in the hospital.  There was no money, but there were seven prayer cloths given by different churches praying for me; there was a card full of prayers signatures from a Baptist church,  I’m a poor rich man!
• My church sent word not be discouraged or to quit.  They would run things until I recovered.  I am a poor rich man!

• Today, I help my son with his Sunday School class.  He teaches some of what I taught him to the juniors.  I’m a poor rich man!
• Today I help my daughter on the computer as she does the secretary work for our church.  I’m a poor rich man!

• In a few weeks I will be attending a revival meeting held by an evangelist I helped lead to the Lord.  I’m a poor rich man!
• Next week I will be visiting a Methodist church where another friend will be speaking.  I have helped him over the years with sermon preparation.  I am a poor rich man!

• I have never missed a meal I did not plan to miss; I have never been without clean clothes; I have always been able to go where I really needed to go to serve God.  I have never been forsaken by God.  I’m a poor rich man!
• Did I mention that I was debt free with a five bedroom home and two cars paid in full?  Yes, I am a poor rich man!

And so I pray, “But, Lord I would not be so if it were not for so many friends who have helped me!”

Jesus reminds me, “That is what I mean; you are a poor rich man!”

And the best is yet to come!

Matthew 19:29 KJV Bible  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.