Read Deuteronomy 24
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches a second time. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow.
When you harvest the grapes in your vineyard, do not go over the vines again. Leave what remains for the alien, the fatherless and the widow.
Deuteronomy 24:19-21
Jesus reminds us that,
“The poor you will always have with you,...” Matthew 26:11a.
Sadly, today too many people particularly in North America look down on the poor. They see them as lazy, unable or unwilling to hold down a job. The simple fact of the matter is not everyone can be wealthy or for that matter in the middle class.
If everyone was wealthy or in the middle class, who would take that low paying job in a coffee shop or department store?
I hear many say the welfare system is designed to give the poor a hand up. Yet, it is my experience it seldom works.
True you hear stories of people working their way off the welfare rolls to become successful. Still ,these are the exception rather than the norm.
It seems the programs to help the poor, no matter what country you are in, are just not enough.
Even in Canada and the United States with all of their wealth, thousands of children and adults go hungry.
I’ve heard it said by some preachers that all Christians should be materially well off. Scripture, however, does not support this.
The Apostle James even eludes to this:
“The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.”
James 1:9
Jesus said, “The poor you will always have with you,...” Matthew 26:11a
I’ve known many devout believers who are poor. Several while not satisfied with being poor have told me that you live one day at a time. Thanking God for each and everything He has blessed them with.
I remember my mother-in-law. Most of her life she worked at low paying jobs. She lived in poverty, while my wife and her siblings were growing up.
When I met her, she was living in a small rented farmhouse just outside of town. Chickens were running around and there was a pig in a pen out back.
Her income back then never got above the poverty line.
Still, there was always a cup of tea waiting for anyone who dropped by.
At Christmas, New Years and Thanksgiving there was always an excellent meal and extra for anyone who dropped in unexpectedly.
All told, on average twenty or more sat down for dinner on these occasions and no one went hungry.
Someone once asked me why does God if He’s all mighty and powerful allow there to be poor?
Frankly I’m not sure but perhaps the Talmud gives the best answer when it states,
Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.”
In Judaism there is a concept called Tzedakah Rabbi Simmons writing on a Jewish web site explains it this way:
"Tzedakah,"... literally means "righteousness" -- doing the right thing. A "tzaddik," likewise, is a righteous person, someone who fulfills all his obligations, whether in the mood or not.”
When I think of such a concept, I think of someone like mother Teresa and her work in India, as well as many other missionaries that have shown the love of God around the world in deed, as well as in word.
As a Christian, I like the concept of Tzedakah, it exemplifies what it is to be a Christian.
We are told to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. Quite often, more often than not, we need first to meet the physical needs of the people we meet, before we can preach the Word of God to them.
I am a firm believer that Christians need to be doers of the word. They need to be out there, doing what they can to help people.
As Christians, people need to see we are different by our actions not just our words.
I believe that a church that is only meeting the spiritual needs of people is falling short.
A church congregation of any size I believe has an obligation to do it’s best to be as active in it’s community as it can. To help not just it’s members but the community at large.
Think about it.
