Preparing Our Hearts for Easter: Day 9 – You Will Always Have the Poor With You

An article by Frank    2 Comments

In the lead up to Easter we will be putting up a new lent devotion each week day. These devotions will also be available in the discussions section of our Facebook page and will be played on New Zealand’s Rhema.

There is a verse in the Bible that is often quoted to justify not working to help the poor. Jesus says in John 12:8

“You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me”

These words are often used as a justification for not holding service to the poor as a priority, an idea that contradicts so much more in the Bible that compels us to care for the poor.

There is an interesting question to ask in response. If Jesus said that we will always have the poor with us then do we indeed have the poor with us?

Jesus’ ministry attracted the sick, the lepers, the beggars, the widows and the orphans – the poor. The poor were with Jesus and the disciples and as long as their ministry was being carried out, the poor would always be there. Are the poor with us?

What are we doing to make the poor part of our lives? Jesus words do not give us a justification to sideline the poor and not serve them, rather they give us the challenge to bring the poor into our lives in some way.

One of the ways I encourage people to start making the poorest of the poor part of their lives is to sponsor a child and build a relationship with that child – make that child someone who is with you. Write letters, give gifts, learn about their home country and pray for them. You can sponsor children through TEAR Fund and TEAR Fund offers many other ways to engage the poor around the world. What can we do to live in a way where the poor are with us?

An even bigger challenge is to draw the poor near in our own neighbourhoods rather than cocooning ourselves. What would that look like for you?

Pray

Jesus, open our hearts to the challenge of living our lives in such a way that has the poor with us. Don’t allow us to sideline them. Don’t allow us to sink into the justifications that push them aside.

Amen