2 Corinthians 6:10  “… having nothing, yet possessing everything.”

The above verse is only really understood by those who spend their lives with eternity in their hearts.  The Apostle Paul’s account of his life has always captured my attention and impacted my whole life and ministry.  In order to describe his life and career, Paul provides a variety of interesting contradictions. Here’s how the J.B Phillips translates the above verse:

“We know sorrow, yet our joy is inextinguishable. We have nothing to bless ourselves with yet we bless many others with true riches. We are penniless, and yet in reality we have everything worth having.”

I heard a Bible teacher years ago describe the early followers of Christ as: “incorrigibly happy, utterly unafraid and nearly always in trouble.”  I love that!

These are the divine paradoxes of the Christian life.  Our hearts may ache with sorrow yet be filled with joy.  We may be poor, but we give spiritual riches to others.  We may own nothing, yet we possess everything worth having!  Does that describe your faith experience or are you still living under the deception that having more will make you happier? What a false hope that is!

Just check out those who have more.  If having more made you happier, then those who have the most would be the happiest. Yet, how often do we read of their empty lives ending in self-inflicted tragedy?

Mark 8:36   “(Jesus said) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

In Ecclesiastes 2, the King who was the wealthiest and most powerful in the history of the world called his life “a chasing of the wind” despite the fact that he had everything. When you read the chapter, you will get a description of a life that is devoid of anything, yet being full with everything that this world has to offer, much like a chocolate Easter bunny.

Those who follow Christ, on the other hand, are aware of what the Apostle Paul means when he writes, “… having nothing, yet possessing everything.” You may wonder how that can be true. Because as a Christ-follower we have everything worth having – the unchangeable reality of His illimitable grace and a rich inheritance that is ours in Christ.

Take a moment and read about it in Ephesians chapter 1. You may be surprised at how rich you really are!