Jesus on the Margins: Poverty



Why did Jesus come to this world?  Oftentimes we Christ followers say it was to redeem us from sin and give us eternal life.  Jesus came to do that, but it was part of a broader purpose.  His broader purpose was to bring God's kingdom to the world.  

Jesus spoke of this mission in his first recorded sermon in Luke.  Luke 4:14-21 says that in this sermon, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2.  This Old Testament passage was a prophecy of the end times.  After reading it, Jesus said, "Today, this prophecy has been fulfilled in your hearing."  This meant the end times had begun, and God was starting to establish his kingdom on earth through Jesus!  This kingdom would be good news for the poor, as it would free prisoners, heal the sick, and release the oppressed.

This passage tells us that the alleviation of poverty should be part of our kingdom work in this world.  Sadly, churches today tend to fall into one of two categories: Those that preach the gospel but do little to help the poor, and those that do much to help the poor, but do little to preach the gospel!

Jesus shows us that this isn't a matter of "either/or," but "both/and."  He wants his followers to preach the gospel and help the poor.  

When we commit ourselves to help the poor, our work isn't done.  We need to pray, and discern how to help the poor without hurting them.  Alleviating poverty isn't just about handing out money.  It's about helping the poor reconcile the broken relationships in their lives, and working in our society to change the unjust structures that conspire to keep the poor down.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

God's Dynamite: The Battle Within

Image
"It was on fire when I lay down on it."  Robert Fulghum wrote about reading this statement in a small town newspaper.   Smoke was billowing from a second story window.  The Fire Department arrived, broke down the front door, ran up a set of stairs, and pulled a man off a burning bed.  Later, when they asked him how he got in that predicament, he said, "It was on fire when I lay down on it." Why on earth did he do that?  We don't know, but his story reveals a human truth.  We often do self-destructive things.  We testify, "People told me not to do it, but I did it anyway."  "I knew it was wrong, but I did it." The apostle Paul wrote about our human propensity to sin and self-destructive behavior in Romans 7:14-25.  Verse 15 sums up his point, "I do not understand what I do.  For what I want to do I do not do and what I hate I do."   He describes an intense inner battle.  On one side is the "flesh," his
Read more

God's Dynamite: More than Conquerors

Image
One person goes through a terrible experience and emerges from it stronger, more mature, and more loving.  Another goes through a similar experience and emerges from it weaker, less mature, and bitter.   What's the difference? I think it has to do with what's in the person's heart.  It has to do with his or her faith and perspective of life.   In Romans 8:35-39, the apostle Paul asked, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?''  Is there any person or place or experience that can remove us from Christ's loving presence?  Trouble? Hardship? Danger?  Sword? Paul could answer this question because he experienced all the above and more.  He said, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."  We conquer all these things through Christ's love for us. To be sure, we can have times when Christ's love seems far away from us. In the depths of suffering in times like these, we can won
Read more

God's Dynamite: Resurrection Transformation

Image
Easter is about more than you going to heaven.  That's part of it, but not near all!  It's about your death and resurrection. In Romans 6, Paul was answering opponents.  Those opponents said that if salvation is by God's grace through faith, then you have no motivation for righteous living and good works.  Why not sin more to get more grace? Paul answered by using the image of baptism.  He said when the pastor plunged you under water, he symbolized your death in Christ.  Through faith you died on the cross with Jesus.  Your old self was a slave to sin and rebellion against God.   Paul said when the pastor raised you up from the water, he symbolized your resurrection in Christ.  Not just in the future but in the present.  In faith, you identify with Jesus' death and his resurrection.  You're raised to a new life, free from slavery to sin. So Easter is about more than personal salvation.  It's about transformation: dying to an old life and ris
Read more