THE POOR
12th Feb 2020
Last Sunday evening I attended our Clevedon United Service, with all the various churches present, and was very encouraged to hear an update from our Refugee Group who are in the process of welcoming a family from Syria to come and live in the town.
In our morning service at Living Waters the theme for our children’s work was, “How do we love those who we find difficult to love?” I wasn’t in the group to hear the answer.
Then I read my Psalm the following morning which started “Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor!” (Psalm 41:1 NLT) it continues, “The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble.”
Throughout Scripture there is constant instruction on how we should treat the poor. We can easily confine this to those who are in financial difficulties, but “poor” can be applied to anyone who is needy, lonely or rejected.
After the death of King Saul, David remembers his promise to show kindness to his family, and one day asks, “Is anyone of Saul’s family still alive - anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” Mephibosheth, a cripple, is found and brought before the King, who restores all the family property, and has him eating regularly at the king’s table with the other royal princes.
Paul takes up this theme in Philippians 2:4, “Consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also the interests of others.” We are living in a very divided and sad world, and as believers we should keep our eyes open for those who have needs that we could meet.
In a society full of cruelty and unkindness, Ephesians 4:31-32 says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger…… Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ask God to show you someone who would be described in the widest context as “poor”, and reach out to them, and let them know they are loved by you and also loved by God.
by Charles Sibthorpe
