With Christmas behind us and the New Year just ahead, I have a question for you: Who would you want to be in the New Year? Someone whose focus is on himself? Or someone who reaches out to help those in need?

Jesus, our example, cared for the people in our world: "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Cor. 8:9 NIV)

Before Jesus came to this earth, He was rich. He had no needs. He had everything, but He desired to share His riches.

How did he do that?

By giving up His riches to come to our planet. Although He is the King, He put all of that aside in order to show genuine love. The bottom line is, Jesus is not interested in wealth. He is interested in genuine love! He gave His own life so that we can be saved forever!

Have you ever received a fortune for yourself? If you had all the money of the earth, that would not be nothing compared with what Jesus had in heaven. But Jesus' focus is people and not money. Jesus tries everything to save us. He knows the source of true happiness isn't wealth and riches.

I once heard of a son who stole money from their parents. He then used their hard-earned wealth to fulfill his every heart's desire. He began to drink heavily. He got into drugs, and he couldn't stay away from the prostitutes. Does this sound like the story of a 20th century prodigal son? Perhaps! And his parents were very sad! After his father died, official power of attorney had to be taken from him and given to a lawyer, otherwise his mother would have soon been living on the streets.

Was this son happy? Not at all. Unlike the prodigal son, this man died alone of a broken heart. Riches won't make you happy. What makes us happy is following Jesus and reaching out to others in love. Can you imagine what would happen to world hunger if everyone on Earth helped to feed the poor?

In summary, Jesus was not focused on Himself. He came to this earth as a tiny baby. Although He was a king, He chose to live in poverty. He chose to care for the poor. May we follow in the steps of Jesus in 2020. What a difference it would make!

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." (2 Cor. 8:9 NIV)

Rob Chaffart