Jesus told us we would always have the poor among us, but scripture also reminds us of our responsibilities to care for those who are oppressed, vulnerable and poor.
Poverty is an obscure concept. There are those who earn seemingly adequate amounts of money but through choices or circumstances find themselves unable to fund their lifestyles. Either their lifestyle exceeds their income by including expenses that are beyond basic necessities or their circumstances have created liabilities beyond what their income can bear.
In measuring poverty, usually an income threshold is determined to be a level at which basic expenses cannot be met. In the United States that income figure is more than the vast majority of nations and in many nations would be a measure of wealth rather than want. The trouble with this measure even in the US, is that people of every income have claimed insufficiency. In determining "enough" you infer a valuation of the cost of basic living.
Income alone is not a sufficient measure. For instance, if I earn $20,000 and receive healthcare as an employee benefit, my ability to meet basic needs may be better than someone who makes more but does not have this benefit. If I qualify for tax credits, I may have a boost that someone of equal income may not receive because of different family conditions. Income cannot measure poverty.
There are people who live very humble lifestyles who are more than able to meet their needs and to save a portion for future expenses. These people may not live extravagantly, but they enjoy financial freedom as all needs are met. Our ability to live within our means and to save for the future is a key measure of our ability to remain self sustaining.
It is easy to pass judgment on the life choices of another, but collectively as a nation, household debt has continued to increase. Many holding their next payday loan in the form of a credit card. We can deceive ourselves into thinking that we have matters I control, when in fact we presume upon God's grace for our provision.
The Bible offers us some good guidance when it comes to caring for the poor that could benefit. The first generation church solved the issue by selling what they had to provide for the needs of those who were in need. While the generosity of these believers is commendable it is important to not that this was a voluntary act and not conscripted.
God established the practice of gleaning as a way of providing for the poor. People were to leave some of their harvest for those in need to gather up. (Lev 23:22). It is good for us to include benevolence in our budgeting as well so that as we encounter those in need we can have the resources to extend a helping hand. This offering for the poor was also outlined in Deut 15:7 - 11.
God hears the prayers of the afflicted and he calls his people to minister to their need. This is a benefit to both the giver who becomes more aware of the bounty they have received at the hand of God and the recipient who has his burden relieved.
Giving to the poor and needy is repeated throughout scripture and ignoring the plight of the needy is attributed to the wicked. Jesus idolaters that when we provide for the needs of others we demonstrate our love for him when he said, "truly I say to you that to the extent you did it to the least of these brothers of Mine, you did it unto me". (Matt 25:40).
Providing for the poor is a measure of our belonging to the Kingdom. In 1 John 3:17-18 we learn, "whoever has the world's goods, and be holds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? little children, let us not love with word or tongue, but in deed and in truth." A challenge for us to consider as we respond to the needs of those around us.
No comments:
Post a Comment