When it comes to “the poor” most of us probably have a stereotypical image that comes to mind.  It might include some of the following:  low income, inadequate housing, on SNAP and other government benefits and driving a car with a three-year-old temporary tag.  Or we might think of the worst-case scenario – a person who lives on the streets, is dirty, smelly, with bad body and oral hygiene.  In other words, someone who is exponentially worse off than any of us!  However, I suggest this is a limited view of “the poor.”

We also know that someone can be poor emotionally, poor mentally, poor in relationships, poor in attitude.  They can be poor in spirit, poor in love, poor in grace, poor in mercy, poor in forgiveness, poor in kindness, poor in forbearance, or poor in generosity.  Frankly, there are many ways we can be poor and Jesus said that “you will always have the poor with you . . .”  Here is what I find fascinating – working with the poor has become its own industry.  We have governmental agencies dedicated to serving the poor as well as non-governmental agencies and charities.  There are resources, time, and talent given in service to the poor.  One of our motivations is that we think it is the humanitarian thing to do.  Tangentially, anyone who serves the poor may get the benefit of feeling better about themselves – it can even become the reason for living.

While Jesus had compassion for the poor and nearly a large part of his earthly ministry was geared toward meeting their needs, Jesus was not in “love” with the poor.  His relationship to them was not the cornerstone or essence of his being – his reason for living.  Love of God the Father was.  Jesus reiterated the Hebrew teaching about the object of human love.  He quoted Deuteronomy 6, “you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.”  Relationship with God was the center of the law and love was its mandate.  But just like any loving relationship, words are not simply enough.  It was not enough to say these words as a prayer which the Hebrew people did.  Instead, action was implied as the natural outcome of loving God.  Jesus taught this when he added “you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself.”  One is the reason for living, the other is the outcome. 

My view of the world is wrapped up in the primary mission of learning to love God more each day.  My pursuit is to draw closer to God’s heart in love today than I was yesterday and to daily continue the journey toward, what John Wesley called, perfection in love.  The fruit of that pursuit is service, particularly, service to the hungry, thirsty, naked, unhoused, sick, and imprisoned.  In our modern context that service could expand to the depressed, broken, or emotionally impoverished among us.  Serving them is the outward and visible sign of an inward journey of love for God.  The goal is to show the world that I love God by serving the least and lost.  You cannot have the second without the first because Jesus’ last teaching in Matthew is not about a general humanitarianism.  We are not called to be good humans as our primary goal – we are called to love God with everything we have.

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above followed by reflection on the questions below.  Assess your journey to love God with everything you have and how that is demonstrated in your service to the poor.  Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.

Questions to Consider this week:

• Monday:  How much time do you spend on social media or watching television?
• Tuesday:  How much time do you spend exercising each day or taking a walk?
• Wednesday:  How much time do you spend praying, meditating, and worshipping?
• Thursday:  How much time do you spend reading the Bible or studying the Bible with others?
• Friday:  Who do you see as the “poor who are always with” you?
• Saturday:  What is your view of growing deeper in love with God and the fruit of that being serving the poor?

Actions for the Week:

• Head:  Determine who and what you are living for.
• Heart:  Commit to loving God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength.
• Hand:  Demonstrate your love for God through your service to the “poor.”