"How a community looks after its poor is, for the Bible, the acid test of its life." (C. N. Sugden)
Poverty, sadly, seems to be a permanent feature of our world. It should not be like that. In nearly every part of the world, even in the wealthiest parts, you will still find many poor people, weak people, orphans and the sick.
The Old Testament is full of directions as to how the poor and the weak were to be looked after, and the New Testament puts a lot of emphasis on this as well. The Bible sees no virtue in poverty as such, but it does tell us that God cares for the poor and he calls blessed those who in his name car for them and help them in their need. It is our Christian duty.
But there are two kinds of poverty highlighted in the Bible. There is the economic poverty we have been noting and there is also a spiritual poverty, when people think they can do without God but then come to realise that without him they are poor wretched and blind — even if they have plenty of money. Jesus has a great message of good news for such people just as for the other kind of poor people: "Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?" (James 2:5)
Prayer
Dear Lord, I thank you that though you were rich you became poor for my sake and to be my Saviour. Help me always to consider the poor. Amen.
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