Have
you ever had that moment when you're reading the Word, and you realize how strange
the ways of God are compared to the ways of men? I've been having that moment
several times a day this week.
As I
look around me and see how the world works, I see certain patterns. Obvious
patterns. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The wounded are abandoned
as hopeless. The brokenhearted become the hardened hearts. This makes sense to
my mind only if I think about it in my perspective. If I work hard and play the
"Social Darwinism" game, I'll always be richer. If I'm not wounded, I
get the head start. My heart cannot be hurt if it's hardened.
Then, I
stop and take a moment. I ask the Lord what he sees. Why does he say
"blessed are the poor" and "woe to the rich"? The poor have
nothing to give, but when they have, they do not hoard. They are humbled. The
wounded and brokenhearted are weak and broken people. They know their limits
and depravity--their weakness. They are humbled. They know that, if a king were
to serve them, they are undeserving. If a king were to serve them, they would accept
it in full gratitude, and they would return with what they had.
What do the weak and broken have to give to God? Love.
I
realized while going through both the Old and New Testament, that God shows us
His commands because, not only does it lead us in the right way, but it shows
us part of His heart. God said in Zechariah, "Do not oppress the widow or
the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each
other." There's a reason. He wants us to love, despite status, money,
intellectuality...
In a
middle-class world, I don't often think of the poor. Well, when I say poor,
what does that mean? It's a question I ask myself. When I think of the poor, do
I automatically think of the homeless? Those with little money? Yes, these are
all on God's heart. Have I forgotten those who are "poorer" than I,
if I can even make such a call? Not just in money and possession...but those
with no father, no mother, no sister, brother, or friend. Am I generous and
loving to them with my time and words?
Are our
conversations with people based on how they can help us? Or how we can gain
status or impose a higher "status" upon them? Do we boast that we are
not as broken, that we are wiser, that we are more mature in Christ than they
are and file it away under "ministry"?
But for the grace of God, there go I.
Motivation. It amazes me that sometimes we don't even
realize our own motives. Sometimes it takes the Holy Spirit. He points out that
quoting of Scripture wasn't to help that person, but to promote intellect. He
points out what we missed in that person's story while we were trying to get
gossip. He points out all the snap-judgments we make about a person when they
walk into the room.
James
warns the church of such judgment--yes, even judgment to say who is rich and
who is not. Here, he says "My brothers and sisters, believers in our
glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing
a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes
in. If you show special attention to the
man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here’s a good seat for you,' but say to the
poor man, 'You stand there' or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,' have you not
discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts..."
(James 2:1-4; I recommend reading the whole chapter with an open heart to the
Holy Spirit).
My
point is that Jesus loves the poor because of their hearts. Blessed are the
poor, for they know that they cannot do anything in their own strength. They
are blessed for they lean on Him in the wilderness. They are blessed because
they are so open to Him, for He raised them up, even though they were lowly,
and He is high and lofty. The response of a poor heart is love.
I ask
the Lord daily, as I struggle with this, to keep me humble before Him. That I
would not forget that it was by His mercy alone that I can stand before Him, or
that He chooses to use me to minister. For to whom much is given, much is
expected. May my position, my money, my possessions, my talents, my anything
never get to my head so that my heart becomes dull and stupid to what
matters--Jesus, the one who loves the poor.
