What is asked of us, as followers of Christ, concerning the desperately poor?
John the Baptist, preaching about bearing fruit consistent with true repentance (Luke 3), put it in very simple terms when the crowd asked “What, then, should we do?” In verse 11, he replies: “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” Those who have been blessed with more are called upon to compassionately share with those who are in great need.
The issue of extreme poverty around the world is especially relevant to America’s Christians, precisely because we are the wealthiest nation,
and Church, on earth.
Not many of us feel wealthy, but this is an illusion. The standards by which we judge our comparative wealth are seriously skewed. We appraise our relative wealth compared to our better-off neighbors here in the U.S., the richest country in history. And, of course, we appraise our relative wealth compared to the host of comforts, options, securities, and conveniences that we want for ourselves and our loved ones. It’s easy to feel less than well-off.
But the fact of the matter is that, from a global perspective, we are incredibly wealthy. Did you know that just a $10,000 (annual) income makes one wealthier than 90% of the rest of the people on the planet?
The simple truth is that the vast majority of people on earth cannot offer
much help to those who suffer in extreme poverty.
And in this gap, God has placed the wealthiest church in the world:
We-the-Church, here, in America. We have been blessed, to be a blessing.
We can no longer plead geography as an excuse; our awareness of, access to, and ability to make a meaningful difference for the desperately poor has never been greater. Dozens of highly effective Christian humanitarian (“parachurch”) organizations work tirelessly around the globe to bring life and self-sufficiency to those who suffer in extreme poverty.
Helping to fund this work, through donations large and small, is a crucial part that each of us, We-the-Church in America, can play.
How relevant is this to our discipleship? Underscoring the importance of acting with compassionate generosity towards the vulnerable and disenfranchised (Matthew 25:31-46), Jesus taught: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Our Lord Jesus clearly equates helping the desperately poor with loving Him.
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