Tag: The Poor

“The Poor Will Always Be With You”

PART II – How Can We Respond?

In “The Poor Will Always Be With You, PART I”, we learned that people can be materially rich and spiritually poor. Without Christ, they are headed for the Lake of Fire. This is true poverty.

Limited resource persons are image bearers of God, and God tells us to care for them as He cares for us. In Matthew 25, Jesus, spoke to His disciples about the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, and those in prison: “‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:31-40  So how we relate to the poor is a serious matter.

Some Ways We Can Minister to Them

  • NUMBER ONE: Ask the Lord – how should I help them, because we don’t know who this person is or what is going on in his/her life.  Then respond  accordingly, as led by the Holy Spirit. There are many ways to help them, only one of which is money.
  • Sometimes their greatest need is for someone to recognize them and treat them as human beings. Or perhaps they need a mentor who can meet with them and counsel them on their life journey.
  • Many churches have outreach initiatives to serve limited resource persons with spiritual and physical needs. We can join those, or start a new one in our church as the Spirit leads. And there are non-profits formed to serve limited resource persons who always need volunteers.
  • We can inquire about their situation, be compassionate, honest, and caring, help them as best we can, and point them to other resources.
  • We can ask the hard but important questions, speak the truth with love, hold them accountable, set boundaries and limits as appropriate, and pray for them – when we are with them and when we are not.
  • Sometimes God allows or even causes crises in our lives to show us the limitations of our own abilities so we will cry out to Him.
  • We should help them discover and fulfill the Lord’s calling for their life rather than merely meeting their physical needs. Rather than just giving them fish, we can teach them how to fish AND BECOME FISHERS OF MEN AND WOMEN FOR THE LORD’S KINGDOM.

Blessing Bags

When we see someone with a sign asking for help, if prompted by the Lord, we can give that person $5 or $10 (or better yet, a coupon for food) with a Bible passage or New Testament. The money gets their attention and they then read the passage or the Word.

Some churches prepare and give out Blessing Bags – small bags with some food, a bottle of water, and a New Testament or booklet with scripture. It feeds their bodies and their souls.

In Real Life:

  • If I was thirsty for water and to know God, would you bring me water and teach me the Word of God?
  • If I was hungry, wounded, and homeless, would you feed me, ask me my story, and bind up my physical and heart wounds with God’s words of compassion, and help me find lodging?
  • If I were in your church without a friend, would you leave your comfort group and ask me out for lunch?
  • If I was sick, would you visit me, and maybe get groceries for me?
  • If I lack glasses or shoes or clean clothes, would you help me?
  • If I was in prison, would you visit me and pray with me?
  • If I was broken-hearted, would you lead me in the Word so I’d find comfort there?

So let us always remember – Jesus said: “What you do for the least of these My brethren you do to Me.”

A Final Warning

Matthew 7:13-14 states: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

If you have wondered why there are few who find the narrow gate, the above questions provide some clues. The message from the Lord is clear with regard to how we are to relate to limited resource persons. So let us go forth and help others who are less fortunate than we are, for we will then be doing the work of the Lord – for our joy and His glory. And let us “not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.” Hebrews 13:2

To God be the glory

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