John 12:5-8 “’Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages’ … ‘Leave her alone,’ Jesus replied. ‘It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.’”
Judas was the speaker who objected to this act of worship by Mary, the sister of Lazarus. Judas’ motives were twisted by pretense. Jesus said worship is more important than feeding the poor. Jesus’ words that there will always be poor in society is an interesting insight.
Principle:The opinion about care for the poor in the U.S. is a mixture of ignorance and indifference even among Christians. This ought not to be.
In a recent poll, 21% Christians considered poverty to be the most serious social problem facing the U.S. today. However, among evangelical Christians only half that many saw the issue as the most serious problem.
Born-again Christians gave clothing or furniture but no money to poor people in the poll year (75%). 71% prayed for poor people, 50% donated time to personally serve needy people in the community, 42% visited elderly or sick people other than friends of relatives, 38% donated money to organizations specifically to help poor people in other countries, 31% tutored or made friends with an underprivileged child and 18% helped to build or restore a house for a poor family.
Who should take the lead in alleviating poverty? Of all the Christians asked, 39% said it was mostly a task for the federal government and an additional 25% thought that the local and state governments should do so. Only 18% though it was the primary responsibility of individual citizens to address poverty. 4% thought it was the duty of churches, 4% thought non-profits organizations should be responsible, and 3% thought businesses should take the lead on dealing with poverty.
Christian Revolutionaries is a title given to born-again, evangelical Christians who indicate their highest priority in life is living for God. They are people who have a worldview based on biblical principles. About half of them thought government agencies should bear primary responsibility and 11% thought it was a church responsibility.
There are 183 Biblical references to the poor. God speaks clearly about the need to care for them and though He clearly states that we always have the poor with us, He does not say who is to take the lead.
Discussion:
1. Who do you believe should be caring for the poor?
2. What could your business do to help alleviate poverty in your community?
3. What will it cost you to help the poor? Pay the price and obey the Lord.
