The church needs to do a better job of dealing with the poor. We have forgotten them for too long and it’s past time we remember…
Remember – “The poor” need Jesus more than material blessings. Jesus told Satan that, “Man does not live by bread alone.” Jesus told his disciples, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry.” (That’s John 6:35)
Remember – “The poor” are sinners too. Scripture tells us that EVERYBODY breaks God’s laws. Poverty doesn’t automatically make a person innocent. Which is why “the poor” need Jesus more than material blessings.
Remember – Ignoring the sins of “the poor” is passing judgment. When your ministry stops after you write a check, you judge that person’s spiritual health to be unimportant.
Remember – Poverty is often the result of choices. Poor choices happen when people don’t have the Holy Spirit. This is why “the poor” need Jesus more than material blessings.
Remember – Gullibility is not a virtue. Giving hand-outs to dishonest people posing as “the poor” doesn’t make you righteous. It makes you a sucker.
Remember – Charity requires effort. There are a LOT of legitimate charity cases. And there are a LOT of criminals too. You can’t help “the poor” until you know who they are.
Remember – Most of “the poor” don’t live in America. The poorest people in the United States have access to free food, shelter, clothing, education, and medicine. “The poor” in America are “The wealthy” in 3rd world countries.
Remember – “The church” is YOU. If “the church has failed to care for the poor,” then YOU have failed.
We have a responsibility to meet the needs of our neighbor. The primary need of EVERY NEIGHBOR is to be at peace with God. That ONLY happens when you give them Jesus Christ. Paying their electric bill or buying them a cheeseburger IS NOT preaching the Gospel. Charity is not the primary function of the church.
The material things you give to people have ZERO eternal value. That doesn’t mean you should stop feeding hungry people. It means you should show people how to never be hungry again.
