In yesterday’s blog article, we considered God’s love for the vulnerable and marginalized in society.
“You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
“You shall not abuse any widow or orphan.
“If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, I will surely heed their cry” (Exodus 22.21-23).
The next verses in the chapter include another category of needy people – the poor.
“If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them.
“If you take your neighbor’s cloak as guarantee, you shall restore it before the sun goes down,
“For it may be your neighbor’s only clothing to use as a cover. In what else shall that person sleep? And when your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate” (Exodus 22.25-27).
The dominant word in this passage is “neighbor.” The poor are not to be a source of cheap labor or exploitive lending practices. They are to be treated as our neighbors.
Jesus’ Example
Henry Blackaby’s expression, “You can’t go where Jesus is and stay where you are,” is appropriate for our relationships with the poor.
When we follow Jesus, we leave behind the world system’s way of dealing with the poor. Here are but a few of Jesus’ actions and attitudes toward the poor.
(1) Jesus applied the message of Isaiah to describe the nature of his ministry.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
“He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
Rudy Ross frequently describes “the year of the Lord’s favor” as a time when humans get back what they have lost.
All humans are poor because of the way our rebellion has impoverished our relationship with God and other people.
Once we have been redeemed and filled with the Holy Spirit, it should be natural for us to model Jesus’ attitudes and actions to the poor around us.
(2) An insightful parable in Matthew 25 describes God’s value of people who care for those in need. He outlines what care for the poor looks like.
“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
“I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25.25-36).
Tracy Kidder’s newest book, Rough Sleepers, tells the story of Dr. Jim O’Connell’s mission to bring healing to Boston’s homeless. Dr. Jim has worked long hours at a fraction of a doctor’s customary pay to fulfill this mission.
One of his practices is one that we can follow. He carries cash to purchase food or give financial aid to homeless people he meets.
What if I took some of the money I spend on Starbucks coffee and asked the Holy Spirit who he wanted me to bless? How about you?
(3) Jesus always had energy for the poor. When he fed the 5,000 (Matthew 14.13-21), the majority of the crowd was comprised of poor pilgrims.
We don’t have to feed 5,000, but he challenges us to include the poor and vulnerable to be members of our social circle.
“But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.
“And you will be blessed because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:13-14).
The commands in Exodus 22 include widows, orphans, immigrants, and the poor.
How would our lives be enriched if we build friendships with these people?
What would happen to our relationship with them if we actively listened to their stories?
We do well to remember Blackaby’s words, “We can’t go where Jesus is and stay where we are.”
Let’s apply Blackaby’s profound thought to our dealings with the vulnerable people whom Jesus loves.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross, Whispering Danny, and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 