"Only the poor in order that we may be remembering, which also I was eager this same to do.’
-By virtue of their relative lack of resources and relationships, those who have-not (aka the materially poor but not necessarily confined to that group - could be children, immigrants/refugees, minorities, women, handicapped, uneducated) find themselves particularly susceptible to injustice and oppression at the hands of those who have, whether it be wealth or power or influence with others who do. They don't have access to any of these things. And so these so-called Have-nots can be much more vulnerable to the vagaries of life in a broken world - illness and injury, disaster and tragedy - living on the margins means you don’t have the same margin to withstand the onslaught of brokenness, which is no respecter of persons regardless of socio-economic status. For far too many, it doesn’t take much for life (or bullies) to push them past the point of being able to weather the storm, over the edge, out of hearth and home (and even onto the streets), smack dab in harm’s way. The Least of these need a voice, need to be heard - they need someone to visit, to take the time to show up and see how they’re doing (cf Matthew 25.36, Acts 7.23, James 1.27). And to care. Not only to slow down long enough to be able to glimpse a need but to care enough to have mercy on them, to actually stop and do something about about helping to meet the need (cf Luke 10.29-37). To seek their welfare, doing something good for them (and in so doing showing them the goodness of the God Who really does see and care about them). What’s more, in remembering and giving voice to these on the margins the church finds its own voice, rising above the level of mere rhetoric and into substance (faith without works is dead says the brother of Jesus - James 2.14 - right after he chastises believers for disrespecting the poor - James 2.6-10), a substantial empowering to make a real difference in the world, to increase the manifestation of true shalom and well-being in the lives of those in its community (Jeremiah 29.7), and yes, to give a glimpse into the heart of God Who truly is breathtakingly good and really does care. Safe to say many of us in the west today have grown up spiritually in a version of evangelicalism which almost seems to prioritize knowledge and attendance over obedience and compassion. We gather to hear good sermons and good Bible lessons and good Bible studies and yet what difference does it make in our lives, in our marriages and families, in our communities and schools and in our city?
-To be sure, remembering the poor, not only thinking about them but finding ways to help them, is really nothing more than pursuing the heart and living into the desires of almighty God Himself. Scripture is replete with enjoinders for God's people to help meet the needs of those less fortunate, those whose socio-economic circumstances have rendered them more vulnerable not only to hunger and illness and death but also to things like injustice and exploitation and discrimination, neglected, forgotten, eking out an existence on the edges of society. In this regard, Homie don’t play. We see this theme particularly stressed in the Old Testament (Exodus 22.22-24; Leviticus 25.35-36; Deuteronomy 10.17-18, 14.28-29, 15.4, 15.7-11, 27.19; Proverbs 14.31, 19.17; Isaiah 1.16-17, 58.6-8; Jeremiah 5.27-29, 7.5-7; Ezekiel 16.49-50; Daniel 4.27). It is still a thing for Jesus (Matthew 6.2-4, Luke 18.21), and for the early church (Acts 4.34, 6.1; Romans 15.26, and as we see here), altho the language is perhaps not as strong. Nevertheless, since God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we can be certain that His heart of compassion for those who are vulnerable and less fortunate has not waned in the least.
-And let us not miss this - Acts says there was not a single needy person among them, in the assembly of that early church. Not. One. The Haves would sell what they had and bring the proceeds to the leaders who would redistribute to the Have-nots according to need. That’s right - redistribution of wealth (aka socialism), and while it is a nasty stench in the nostrils of any modern-day capitalist, apparently it set just fine with the 1st century church. Note that Scripture does in no way seek to subsidize or otherwise endorse laziness (2Thessalonians 3.10-12, 1Thessalonians 4.11, Matthew 25.26, Proverbs 12.27), and in fact makes provision for even those on the margins to actually earn a living of sorts (Leviticus 19.10, 23.22; Ruth 2.2), but thus we see the bar set particularly high for God’s people in taking care of the least of these who are in their midst - their own brethren, as well as the alien among them who is likewise vulnerable due to his lack of resources and local knowledge/relationships. We as God’s people in the 21st centrury would do well to examine our own efforts and commitment towards remembering the poor AND for having not one needy person among us...
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