Rags to riches

We read about many great stories in the Bible about people who have gone through the experience of rags to riches. David and Joseph are great examples of such experience. Joseph’s story is not only about someone who went from rags to riches, but also about a person, who was despised and belittled by his own family, including his parents.

Joseph was so despised by his brothers that they thought of different ways to get rid of him, whether it was by killing him or selling him. Fortunately, because of one brother’s intervention, they didn’t kill him, but sold him to slavery. They didn’t care how he was gone, they just wanted him gone. When he shared his dreams to his family, his father who considered him to be the favorite child and loved him more than the other brothers, and made a nice coat of many colors for him, said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” (Gen. 37:10).

However, after going through many years of struggles and sufferings, his dreams, which were given to him by God, finally came true. He became the second in command of the greatest nation in the world of that time. At that point, even his father had to go to him for provision due to the famine.

After he had those dreams, he must have been scared and thought that he didn’t have the capacity or the ability to be a great leader. If we put it in the current terms, for example, be the President of the United States or be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. But when the time came, God not only lifted him up, just like in his dream, but also gave him the wisdom, knowledge and understanding from above to not only have the people of that nation as well as the surrounding nations be fed through seven years of famine but also lead the greatest nation in the world of that time. When the family realized that Joseph’s dream had come true, no doubt, they had the shock of their lifetime.

David is another person we read about in the Bible who went from rags to riches, but also faced the similar criticisms and belittling from his family. He was considered the runt of the family. His brothers always mocked him and kept him away from their gatherings. His father also considered him as no one that would amount to any great things, but merely a delivery boy and a shepherd to mend the father’s sheep. He was considered so worthless that when Samuel, the prophet, came to anoint one of the sons to be the next king of Israel, Jesse, the father didn’t even consider David to be a part of the selection. 

When God told Samuel, that He has not chosen any one of those sons that were present, Samuel asked Jesse if he has any other sons. The response Jesse gives sounds as if he’s talking about a servant rather than a son. “There is still the youngest, but he is tending the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:11). When he says that, it sounds as if he’s thinking, ‘Oh, there’s no way God has chosen David, let alone chosen him to be the next king of Israel.’ When Samuel was told by God, “Rise and anoint him; he is the one” (v.12), no doubt, that moment the family had the shock of their lifetime.

It’s true when the Lord told Samuel, “man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). We think by looking at the outward appearance, ‘Oh, he’s got the looks and the body to be the king.’ ‘He’s been a soldier all his life and the king of a nation needs to know a thing or two about wars and battles and how to win them in order to battle other nations and to lead your own nation into victory. 

Who would have thought that a mere shepherd would lead the great nation of Israel into so many victories? But who better to lead a nation and keep it protected from other nations who wish destruction to this nation, than a shepherd who’s protected his flock of sheep from wild animals.

Think of these two lives from the Bible when someone puts you down or belittles you, whether it is your family, friends or even relatives. Ultimately, it is not your family or the people who know you that decides your destiny, rather the God who created you. Always remember, He wishes success for you, not failure, even more than you wish that for yourselves. 

If it’s His will for you to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, then He will not only raise you up to that level, but also give you the wisdom, knowledge and understanding from heaven to do the job well and successfully. 

It is His promise that, you will be the head and not the tail (Deut. 28:13) and that you will lend and borrow from none (vs.12). It is the Lord’s wish for you to be rich and prosperous. So that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Cor. 9:8). So, if you’re experiencing rags now, don’t worry, riches are just around the corner, if and only if you rely and trust in the Lord.

May you find peace and comfort in these words and promises of our Lord.