Justice for People in Need

GOLDEN TEXT: “Whoso bath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” —I John 3:17

ISAIAH 56:6-8; HEBREWS 13:1-3

SOCIAL and economic conditions in most countries have changed greatly since the days when the Bible was written. Sights of the hungry and the naked are surely not as common today as they were when the Lord, through Isaiah, called Israel’s attention to the bad situation which existed within the nation, and to the responsibility the more fortunate among them had of caring for those of their “own flesh.”

Today, the more or less socialized forms of government in many countries, which provide old-age pensions, unemployment insurance, social security, and other forms of social service, have to some extent done away with the abject poverty of the past, although not completely. Nor have these reforms as yet reached and benefited the masses to any great extent in the so-called backward nations of the earth. However, even in the most advanced nations of earth, which have the highest standards of living, the problem of poverty has not been entirely solved.

But the ratio of the needy does not change the principle involved in our lesson, that principle being that the Lord’s people, who have been partakers of his abundant grace should feel sympathetic responsibility toward those in need, particularly the needy ones in their own fellowship. No true Christian will turn a deaf ear toward the needs of his brother in Christ. As our Golden Text states, to do so would raise the question as to whether or not one really possessed the love of Christ in his heart.

LUKE 4:16-22

IN THE synagogue at Nazareth, Jesus read the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1,2, which foretold the anointing of the Holy Spirit that would come upon him, and explained, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (vs. 21) By this anointing Jesus was authorized by his Heavenly Father to proclaim the glad tidings, the Gospel of peace and salvation. By this anointing he was also designated to be the One through whom the provisions of the plan of God for human salvation would be accomplished.

This “anointing” of the Holy Spirit is passed on from Jesus to all those who are baptized into him, to be members of his mystical body. This makes Jesus’ true followers partners with him, not only in proclaiming the good news of the kingdom during the present age, but also, when they are raised from the dead and exalted with him in glory, to share in the work of giving health and everlasting life to all the willing and obedient of mankind.

In this divine commission it is expressly stated that the Gospel is to be preached to the “poor.” We doubt if the Lord wants us to interpret this too literally in the sense of specially seeking out the poor and witnessing to them exclusively. Jesus did not do this, although in proclaiming the good tidings he did not discriminate against the poverty-stricken. He preached to the people as he found them, to the rich and poor alike; and so should we.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3) This, it would seem, suggests a more realistic understanding of the commission to preach the Gospel to the “poor,” for whether one is wealthy or poverty-stricken from a material standpoint, unless he is “poor in spirit” he would have no ear for the Gospel.

In Isaiah’s prophecy from which Jesus quoted, the word “meek” is used instead of “poor.” This bears out the thought we have presented. The Hebrew word here translated “meek,” according to Prof. Strong, literally means “depressed.” This comes close to describing the attitude of those who are “poor in spirit.” It is only as they look to the Lord and he supplies their need through the truth that they are lifted out of their “depression.”

Among the essentials of life usually available to those who are not too poor to acquire them, are food and clothing. The “poor in spirit” whom the Lord draws to Jesus are provided with satisfying spiritual food, and with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. They have to be “poor in spirit” else they would not accept, and could not appreciate, these provisions. Only such recognize their need of spiritual food, and realize their sinful, undone condition, hence the need of the “robe” to cover their imperfections. May we all continue to be “poor in spirit” that our appreciation of divine grace through Jesus may never become dim!

QUESTIONS

What are some of the differences in human society today, from the time the Bible was written?

Do the Lord’s people still have a responsibility toward those who are literally poor?

Who are the “poor” to whom Jesus and his followers were commissioned to proclaim the Gospel?

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