The Poor and Needy

“The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.” (Mark 14:7 NIV)

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2 NIV)

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'” (Matthew 25:40 NIV)

I was always puzzled why we have poor people especially in third world countries, and even in rich and developed countries like the USA, EU, Japan, or even in oil rich countries like KSA. As I connect some of the verses I have read, it made more sense why we need poor and needy people. Of course, many poor people are poor because of their own doing or just simply being lazy. But there are poor people who are victims of injustices or results of unfortunate circumstances like calamities and similar situations.

Even then, Jesus Himself had told us to have poor people with us. For whatever reason, I believe they are instruments for the testing of our faith, compassion, love, and care for other people – even as Jesus had compassion on all people. Jesus wants us to practice and experience what He is like, for this brings us also humility of heart and greater love for other people. People who have no capacity to pay us back or to love us back – for by then, it is a way that we can have inheritance and rewards in heaven (Matt 25:34).

For the hungry, we give food and the Bread of Life. For the thirsty, we give drink and the Water of Life. For the stranger, we provide shelter and bring them to the House of the Lord. For the clothe less, we provide clothing. For the sick and prisoners, we have to visit them and comfort them with the Word of God. We are so much blessed by God that we need to bless other people, and to become channels of blessings. Who knows, angels are sent as poor in our doorsteps to test our love and compassion – be willing to help and accommodate. And don’t worry, surely God will give you a hint in your heart whether the poor is real or not.

As we see so many calamities and needy people in many places, may we learn to practice generosity and compassion, as the Lord continue to shower us blessings and the capacity to give. Bless and be blessed.

Staying connected ….

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:22-25 NKJV)

There is nothing much more important – next to having a God - than being connected to a community of people, if you are a person created to live on this wild and lonely earth. People used to send enveloped mails and post cards, call by telephone, meet in one place and get together – fulfilling some needs of the human desire being connected to each other. Until the electronic age came where meetings and gatherings are slowly being replaced by impersonal emails, online conferences, social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Friendster, MySpace, and many others. People sit more often in front of the computer screen, than spending time with other people personally. Yet still, this only shows that getting connected is another important missing piece in the life of an individual.

In the life of a Christian, it is a command to gather together as body of believers in Christ … as we see the Day approaching, referring to Christ’s eminent return. Not only because we wanted to see each other, but more importantly to help and encourage each other in the Word, after all, the power of encouragement comes from the Word of God. We notice that there are three collective phrases from verses 22 to 24, “let us ...” which include you and other believers getting together. I personally tried to get alone myself and study and meditate on God’s Word. Somehow it worked for few weeks, until I still have that longing to be in a body of believers. It could be that the Holy Spirit is putting that desire in my heart to fellowship with other believers whenever I go into the Word. If that’s what it is, then God’s Word is worth believing that staying connected is a must. Verse 25 says, not to forsake assembling of ourselves together. It’s not just getting together but assembling together – which means everyone has a function to perform in the body of believers, like assembling a piece of puzzle, assembling an engine block, or whatever thing that needs to work together in unity to fulfill a purpose. Everyone has a purpose whether we do highlights or lowest job in the body – God is the one who rewards and elevates everyone in the body, so we still need to get together and do what God wanted us to perform in the body.

In our daily walk as Christians, we need to remember the “let us” commands. I would like to share this paraphrased version in The Message: “So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”

Let’s get connected to God and with other believers more often. Either by going to church regularly or attending Christian fellowships where the Bible is preached and Christ is glorified and magnified.