Remembering the Poor

Gal 2:10
10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
(NIV)


Having been homeless and working as a chaplain in two rescue missions, am always reminded of those who are poor, destitute, and homeless. With this New Year we all have been very busy just as the disciples in the church in Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas were being sent to Antioch and the Gentiles and the other disciples were to remain in Jerusalem to help build up the church to the Jews. Even though they had been very busy they did not neglect the poor, the very thing that was on their heart that they were eager to do. The apostle Paul is saying here that despite the great work of bringing the gospel to the Gentiles that he was still eager to help the poor.

Paul had already done this on a previous occasion (Ac 11:27-30) and continued to do so in his future missionary journeys (1Co 16:1-3; Ro 15:26-27; 1Co 11:22). As stated by Jesus, the poor are always among us (Mt 26:11), and blessings are promised to those that consider them (Ps 41:1 and 112:9). Jesus' concern for the poor (Ac 20:35) carried down through the apostles (Ga 2:9-10) to the early church as they cared for the poor, the widows (Ac 2:45; 4:34; 6:1, and 8), and promoted special collections for the needy saints (Ro 15:26).

In the Old Testament, the Law of Moses protected the needy by supplying special legislation that gave a portion of the tithes to the poor (De 14:28-29 and 26:12-13), supplied them with the right to glean the fields (Le 19:9-10 and De 24:19-21), restored their land in the Year of Jubilee (Le 25:25-28), gave daily payment of wages rather than weekly or monthly (Le 19:13), and provided justice for them and freedom from oppression (Ex 23:6 and De 7:19).

God also promised to hear their prayers (Ps 69:33) and to help, shelter, and provide for them (Ps 72:12-13, 132:15; and Isa 41:17).

We are told in Scripture that to have pity upon the poor is to lend to the Lord (Pr 19:17), to oppress the poor is to reproach our Maker (Pr 14:31), a special blessing of healing and deliverance in time of trouble will be granted to those considering the poor (Ps 41:1-3), and those who have mercy on the poor will be happy (Pr 14:21).

Even though we are busy and some of us due to the economic downturn are struggling, we also should not neglect the poor. There are many ways that we can help out. There are Rescue Missions all across this country that are not just taking care of the needs of the poor and homeless but also supply the life giving message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

All I ask for is that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I am eager to do. Are you eager also?

Remembrance of Memorial Day: No Greater Love hath any Man

On Memorial Day we are reminded of what our forefathers, friends, relatives have done in laying down their lives so that we may be free. Jesus who paid the ultimate price said in John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (NIV) Jesus died so that we may be free of the tyranny that sin had brought down on Mankind.

Also reminded of the Gettysburg Address that was delivered by Lincoln during the American Civil War, on the afternoon of Thursday, November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, four and a half months after the Union armies defeated those of the Confederacy at the decisive Battle of Gettysburg. Here is a portion of that address:

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

There is unfinished work that this country has before us and are we willing to give the full measure of devotion and not let the past die in vain. And so on Memorial Day, we pause to remember the lives and contributions made by those we have loved and still do. It's not so much about the grave as the person. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints" (Psalm 116:15).

by Jeremiah Williamson