Live with Jesus love and compassion
Like many other communities, we have what seems to be a growing population of homeless people. We also have large numbers of people who have a place to live but struggle with poverty. Our community is not alone in this problem; I doubt there is a community out there that doesn’t struggle with some form of poverty. Some hide it better than others, but it still exists.
Poverty isn’t a new problem. It’s as timeless as sin itself and will continue until the Lord returns. There are people in poverty because of mental illness or poor life choices. Others are there because of circumstances beyond their control. It isn’t a one-size-fits-all problem. Some only need a hand up, while no amount of help will bring others out.
Jesus Himself said:
For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:8 (see also Matthew 26:11, Mark 14:7
Jesus is responding to complaints about a woman who had anointed Him with costly perfume. The disciples complained that the money could have been spent on the poor, but they really wanted it for themselves. I think they were jealous of the woman’s extravagant act of worship.
Jesus saying here is often misunderstood. Some take it to be fatalistic: there will always be poor people, so don’t even try. Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus is, in fact, pointing them back to a passage they should have known well.
For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ Deuteronomy 15:11 ESV
The Deuteronomy passage does not merely predict the continuing presence of poverty; it commands God’s people to respond with generosity. Jesus’ words therefore should not be understood as an excuse for neglecting the poor. In Mark 14:7, He explicitly adds that they can do good to the poor whenever they wish.
We are called to be generous in our worship of God, but also called not to neglect those in need.
It’s true we can’t fully solve the problem, but we can show Jesus’ love through how we respond to the poor. The Lord doesn’t call us to believe poverty doesn’t exist or to turn a blind eye. We’re called to act in love.
God didn’t send His Son believing that everyone would accept His love. He sent Him knowing full well that the problem of sin would not go away in this world (until He returns). He came in love, humility and sacrifice even when the problem would continue.
We are called to love and compassion the same way.
Kevin
SUMMARY
Jesus’ words about the poor were never a reason to look away from them. We can’t end poverty in this world, but we can meet it with the same love Christ showed us.
TAKEAWAY
Jesus wasn’t telling us to give up on the poor. He was pointing back to Deuteronomy 15:11, a passage His disciples should have known well, where God commands us to open wide our hand to the needy.
Poverty isn’t a one-size-fits-all problem. Some people only need a hand up, while no amount of help will bring others out. Either way, we’re called to act in love.