Discipline of remembering the poor

Speaker: Paul Brown

Notes

Remembering the poor was a priority for the early church and should be for us too. Gal 2:10

Who are they? Stats on world poverty available at Micah Challenge amongst other places. There are millions in absolute poverty around the world but also plenty of poor people close to home. I suggest that anyone who struggles to find the basics of life - food, shelter, clothes, education - is poor.

The Bible has a lot to say about the poor. Here's a selection:

• Matt 19:21 - give to the poor

• Luke 4:18, 7:22 - preach good news to the poor. We need to meet both material and spiritual needs

• Gal 6:10 - do good to all but first to believers. Sounds a bit inward, but it's part of being family / community. Don't be exclusive.

• 2 Cor 8:9 - follow Jesus' example of giving up of himself for the sake of others

• 2 Cor 8:13-14 - aim for equality. But without becoming a communist!

• Micah 6:8 - justice

What should we do?

• Pray

• Get God's heart of compassion

• Be informed. Don't turn away

• Prioritise - who is God wanting you to help?

• Give generously

• Get involved

None of us can solve the world's problems, but we can each do our bit.

Application

How does God feel about the poor? Why does so much of the Bible seem to talk about the poor? Couldn't God have not created people rich and poor in the first place? What do you think are the root causes of poverty?

Who does God want you to help? We can't respond to every need we come across, so how do you decide which to ignore? Is it actually right to ignore people's needs?

What can I give? What can I give up to help someone else? The Christian life involves sacrifice. How at ease are you with your own standard of living when compared to that of others?

Posted: 25 May 2008