Pastor's Blog https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org Thu, 28 Mar 2024 13:50:46 -0500 http://churchplantmedia.com/ The Poor: Who Why and How To Help, Part 3 https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/the-poor-who-why-and-how-to-help-part-3 https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/the-poor-who-why-and-how-to-help-part-3#comments Wed, 07 Nov 2018 16:00:00 -0600 https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/the-poor-who-why-and-how-to-help-part-3 ?  Why do we do what we do and when should we not do it? 

Sometimes deep, probing questions annoy us.  People sometimes want simply to do what is required because it is required.  My wife tends down that path.  She sometimes gets impatient with the question “why.”  As the anthem of the “Light Brigade” goes, “Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.”  The problem one eventually comes to down this road is doing the wrong thing or even the right thing for the wrong reason and 600 charge for the guns into the Valley of Death. 

Sometimes these deep questions distract us. We who are more introspective like to know why something should be done before we do it.  We are very careful that what is being done is the right thing for the right reason.  The problem with an extreme in this direction is that you can become so concerned about the” why” that paralysis sets in and you end up doing nothing.

When it comes to helping the poor, the Bible gives us plenty of reasons why we should help the poor and plenty of instruction about when to not help the poor.  With these questions, we want to be probing enough to be doing the right thing for the right reason, yet careful that we actually do something and not be introspectively paralyzed.

III. Why Should We Help the Poor?

Let me list these simply and challenge you to contemplate the Scriptures provided.

  1. It is commanded in Scripture (Matt. 5:42)
  2. It is a sign of saving faith (Luke 19:8).
  3. It was a priority for the early church (2 Cor. 9:9; Gal. 2:10).
  4. For blessing (Pr. 19:17).

Psalm 41:1b

How blessed is he who considers the helpless;

The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble.

That is the why, how about the question of when not to help the poor?

IV. When Should We Not Help The Poor?

  1. When our helping distracts from the purpose of poverty.

The Bible says the purpose of poverty is that people might learn how to hope in, depend on and call out to the Lord (1 Sam. 2:8; Job 5:15; Ps. 34:6; 113:7; Matt. 11:5; Luke 4:18). 

What if I had planned to bless my family with a fancy meal when I came home from work?  But what if, before I came home, someone else, saw them hungry and gave them a ton of paltry scraps.  When I come home, they would be too full of scraps to desire the delicacies I brought.

How many times do we keep people from crying out to the Savior because we’ve been a substitute for Him, meeting a physical need thus suppressing the spiritual desire as well?

Mez McConnel

"The church has also been guilty of paternalism and malevolent generosity when it comes to things such as soup kitchens, food pantries, and so forth. We’ve too often confused free handouts with Christian ministry. Instead, we should be evangelizing, discipling, equipping, and sending out people as they minister within local churches.

We’ve separated mercy from discipleship. Much mercy ministry today is pragmatic rather than biblically thought through. Billions of dollars are spent helping the poor, yet how many churches have been established and how many poor, young pastors are coming up through the current system?"[i]

  1. When we help the poor to promote our own agenda (John 12:6) or to elevate our self-esteem (Matt. 6:2, 3).

Maybe it is a political agenda or special interest group using the poor to pass legislation.

Maybe it is a church ministry, something to rally God’s people to action.

Maybe it is to feel the good feeling we feel when we help someone.

These can be cheap and tawdry ways to please ourselves at the expense of others all the while claiming that we are selflessly helping.

  1. When we help the poor without love for them (1 Cor. 13:3).
  2. When loving the poor becomes a substitute for loving God (Matt. 26:9-11).

This might be best understood in modern terms by a Christian’s willingness to engage in relief efforts with those who don’t share the same Gospel motivation and priority.  For some, even Christians, helping the poor is the Gospel.  For the biblical Christian, helping the poor is simply a means to the Good News that Jesus Saves.

  1. When we aren’t providing for basic needs (2 Thess. 3:10), or they aren’t biblically poor.

The problem in America is that we’re so rich, very few people are actually biblically poor.  Therefore, poverty has come to mean, “someone who doesn’t have as much as I do.”  Often the reason a person doesn’t have as much as we do is that they are addicted to expensive habits.  Because few of the “poor” in America are truly poor, when we give them money or even food or clothing, we are enabling them to spend money they would’ve spent on basic provision on frivolous things or even the very addictions that made them poor in the first place.

  1. When it is a poor stewardship of my resources (1 Timothy 5:8).

There’ve been times I wanted to help someone, and they were truly in need, and they truly had less than me, but I had a wife and five children to care for.  It would’ve been folly to help someone else at the expense of my family.

Conclusion

The compassion and love that spurs one to help the poor is a godly sentiment so let’s help the poor, but let’s do so as God would, as He details in the Bible.  And I think, if we strive to help the biblical poor in a biblical way, we might find ourselves helping different people than we understand as the poor in different ways than we understand helping. 

Have you helped someone today?

 

[i] https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/good-news-poor/, August 2018.

]]>
?  Why do we do what we do and when should we not do it? 

Sometimes deep, probing questions annoy us.  People sometimes want simply to do what is required because it is required.  My wife tends down that path.  She sometimes gets impatient with the question “why.”  As the anthem of the “Light Brigade” goes, “Theirs not to reason why, Theirs but to do and die.”  The problem one eventually comes to down this road is doing the wrong thing or even the right thing for the wrong reason and 600 charge for the guns into the Valley of Death. 

Sometimes these deep questions distract us. We who are more introspective like to know why something should be done before we do it.  We are very careful that what is being done is the right thing for the right reason.  The problem with an extreme in this direction is that you can become so concerned about the” why” that paralysis sets in and you end up doing nothing.

When it comes to helping the poor, the Bible gives us plenty of reasons why we should help the poor and plenty of instruction about when to not help the poor.  With these questions, we want to be probing enough to be doing the right thing for the right reason, yet careful that we actually do something and not be introspectively paralyzed.

III. Why Should We Help the Poor?

Let me list these simply and challenge you to contemplate the Scriptures provided.

  1. It is commanded in Scripture (Matt. 5:42)
  2. It is a sign of saving faith (Luke 19:8).
  3. It was a priority for the early church (2 Cor. 9:9; Gal. 2:10).
  4. For blessing (Pr. 19:17).

Psalm 41:1b

How blessed is he who considers the helpless;

The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble.

That is the why, how about the question of when not to help the poor?

IV. When Should We Not Help The Poor?

  1. When our helping distracts from the purpose of poverty.

The Bible says the purpose of poverty is that people might learn how to hope in, depend on and call out to the Lord (1 Sam. 2:8; Job 5:15; Ps. 34:6; 113:7; Matt. 11:5; Luke 4:18). 

What if I had planned to bless my family with a fancy meal when I came home from work?  But what if, before I came home, someone else, saw them hungry and gave them a ton of paltry scraps.  When I come home, they would be too full of scraps to desire the delicacies I brought.

How many times do we keep people from crying out to the Savior because we’ve been a substitute for Him, meeting a physical need thus suppressing the spiritual desire as well?

Mez McConnel

"The church has also been guilty of paternalism and malevolent generosity when it comes to things such as soup kitchens, food pantries, and so forth. We’ve too often confused free handouts with Christian ministry. Instead, we should be evangelizing, discipling, equipping, and sending out people as they minister within local churches.

We’ve separated mercy from discipleship. Much mercy ministry today is pragmatic rather than biblically thought through. Billions of dollars are spent helping the poor, yet how many churches have been established and how many poor, young pastors are coming up through the current system?"[i]

  1. When we help the poor to promote our own agenda (John 12:6) or to elevate our self-esteem (Matt. 6:2, 3).

Maybe it is a political agenda or special interest group using the poor to pass legislation.

Maybe it is a church ministry, something to rally God’s people to action.

Maybe it is to feel the good feeling we feel when we help someone.

These can be cheap and tawdry ways to please ourselves at the expense of others all the while claiming that we are selflessly helping.

  1. When we help the poor without love for them (1 Cor. 13:3).
  2. When loving the poor becomes a substitute for loving God (Matt. 26:9-11).

This might be best understood in modern terms by a Christian’s willingness to engage in relief efforts with those who don’t share the same Gospel motivation and priority.  For some, even Christians, helping the poor is the Gospel.  For the biblical Christian, helping the poor is simply a means to the Good News that Jesus Saves.

  1. When we aren’t providing for basic needs (2 Thess. 3:10), or they aren’t biblically poor.

The problem in America is that we’re so rich, very few people are actually biblically poor.  Therefore, poverty has come to mean, “someone who doesn’t have as much as I do.”  Often the reason a person doesn’t have as much as we do is that they are addicted to expensive habits.  Because few of the “poor” in America are truly poor, when we give them money or even food or clothing, we are enabling them to spend money they would’ve spent on basic provision on frivolous things or even the very addictions that made them poor in the first place.

  1. When it is a poor stewardship of my resources (1 Timothy 5:8).

There’ve been times I wanted to help someone, and they were truly in need, and they truly had less than me, but I had a wife and five children to care for.  It would’ve been folly to help someone else at the expense of my family.

Conclusion

The compassion and love that spurs one to help the poor is a godly sentiment so let’s help the poor, but let’s do so as God would, as He details in the Bible.  And I think, if we strive to help the biblical poor in a biblical way, we might find ourselves helping different people than we understand as the poor in different ways than we understand helping. 

Have you helped someone today?

 

[i] https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/good-news-poor/, August 2018.

]]>
The Poor: Who, Why and How to Help, Part 2 https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/the-poor-who-why-and-how-to-help-part-2 https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/the-poor-who-why-and-how-to-help-part-2#comments Thu, 27 Sep 2018 16:00:00 -0500 https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/the-poor-who-why-and-how-to-help-part-2 We’ve all been there.  We’re going about our merry way and upon our scene emerges a homeless person, a hungry person, a disheveled, obviously poor, with a ton of problems person.

?  How do you react?

If you’re like most Americans, you immediately feel compassion.  You want to fix the problem.  Americans are fix-it people.  We see a problem and we have to fix it.  Look at our history.  You’ll see this is true.  But how do we fix it?  The American way is with money.  Sometimes that’s okay, but sometimes money is the least of a person’s problems.  Sometimes money hurts more than it helps.  The Bible shows us that the poor need more than money.

I. How Should We Treat The Poor?

A. HAVE COMPASSION ON THE TRULY POOR.

Remember, the Bible defines the poor as those who can’t take care of themselves, who need help now lest they suffer or die. 

God feels compassion for these people, even for those who are poor by their own doing (Psalm 72:13; Proverbs 14:21; 19:17).  Jesus spent much of His ministry helping the poor and His motive in helping was compassion.  If we wish to be like Christ, our first reaction should be compassion (James 1:27; 1 John 3:17).

B.  BE FAIR TO EVERYONE.

Beyond compassion, we need to be fair.  Biblically, this point includes both the truly poor and those who simply have a lower standard of living. 

1. Show No Partiality For The Rich.

a. At church…

When a needy person comes to church, welcome them as joyfully as you do the rich (or more popular or better looking) people who attend (James 2:2, 3).  Don’t just hang out with the one who is more pleasant to be around, the nicely dressed, more refined, nicer smelling, better looking person.  Show no partiality in corporate worship.

Luke 14:13, 14

[Jesus said], “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

b. In everyday life…

Don’t take advantage of the poor!  Don’t deny them just wages because they are desperate for money.  Don’t deny them justice because they can’t afford a fancy lawyer.  Don’t overtax them because they can’t afford an accountant. (Deuteronomy 15:9; Proverbs 14:31; 17:5; 22:22)

Proverbs 29:7

The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,

The wicked does not understand such concern.

As wrong as it is to show partiality for the rich, it is just as wrong to show partiality for the poor!

2. Show No Partiality For The Poor (Ex. 23:3; Lev. 19:15).

Just because a wealthy person can pay more doesn’t mean we should take advantage of him.  Don’t punish the wealthy because your envious of their wealth.  Justice, according to the Bible, should have nothing to do with a person’s financial status. 

C. MAKE SPECIAL PROVISION FOR THE TRULY POOR.

The Bible makes special provision for the truly poor.

1. No Interest!

In ancient Israel, the truly poor weren’t required to pay interest (Exodus 22:25).  The idea is that they were borrowing what they needed to survive.  If something is given to the poor, then repayment should not be expected and if it is expected, it should not be with interest.

2. Less Offering!

In Ancient Israel, the poor were allowed to give less to the temple for the same ceremony (Leviticus 5:7, 11).

D. DON’T HELP THOSE WHO CAN HELP THEMSELVES.

2 Thessalonians 3:10b

if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

I don’t want to lump everyone into one category.  I don't know every situation, but surely if people can stand outside Walmart all day long in all kinds of weather to get handouts, they can stand inside Walmart and greet people to provide for themselves and bless others.

A friend of mine once offered a job to a man standing at Walmart and the man said he wasn’t interested.  He made more money simply standing there.  These people probably don’t need our help, let alone our money.

E.  HELP THOSE WHO CAN’T HELP THEMSELVES TO HELP THEMSELVES.

It’s interesting that while Jesus advocates giving money to the poor (Mark 10:21), I couldn’t find anywhere in the Gospels where Jesus actually did (Matthew 26:11).  Maybe he did and I missed it.  Perhaps it just wasn’t recorded (John 13:29).  Regardless, more often Jesus solved the problem that caused the poverty.  He healed the lame, the blind, and others.  He gave them what they needed to help themselves. 

In Peter’s epic response to a beggar, he said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”   Jesus and the Apostles provided a way for poor people to escape poverty. 

A question to consider:

Do you think we sometimes give money to the poor because we don’t know what else to do?

Or maybe we know what to do, but we don’t want to bother with the time and difficulty of doing what is needed so we throw money at the problem.  You see, giving money is beneficial.  It helps us feel like we are doing something without really doing anything.  It makes us look good in the eyes of those watching.  But it isn’t really beneficial because poverty isn’t one size fits all and what is needed is usually more than we are willing to invest.

Conclusion

Giving money might solve an immediate need and make us feel good about ourselves.  The Bible says: Honor the poor. Be impartial to the poor.  Make allowances for the poor.  Help poor people help themselves.  This provides for their needs and gives them dignity in the process.

Next time: Why should we help the poor and when should we not?

]]>
We’ve all been there.  We’re going about our merry way and upon our scene emerges a homeless person, a hungry person, a disheveled, obviously poor, with a ton of problems person.

?  How do you react?

If you’re like most Americans, you immediately feel compassion.  You want to fix the problem.  Americans are fix-it people.  We see a problem and we have to fix it.  Look at our history.  You’ll see this is true.  But how do we fix it?  The American way is with money.  Sometimes that’s okay, but sometimes money is the least of a person’s problems.  Sometimes money hurts more than it helps.  The Bible shows us that the poor need more than money.

I. How Should We Treat The Poor?

A. HAVE COMPASSION ON THE TRULY POOR.

Remember, the Bible defines the poor as those who can’t take care of themselves, who need help now lest they suffer or die. 

God feels compassion for these people, even for those who are poor by their own doing (Psalm 72:13; Proverbs 14:21; 19:17).  Jesus spent much of His ministry helping the poor and His motive in helping was compassion.  If we wish to be like Christ, our first reaction should be compassion (James 1:27; 1 John 3:17).

B.  BE FAIR TO EVERYONE.

Beyond compassion, we need to be fair.  Biblically, this point includes both the truly poor and those who simply have a lower standard of living. 

1. Show No Partiality For The Rich.

a. At church…

When a needy person comes to church, welcome them as joyfully as you do the rich (or more popular or better looking) people who attend (James 2:2, 3).  Don’t just hang out with the one who is more pleasant to be around, the nicely dressed, more refined, nicer smelling, better looking person.  Show no partiality in corporate worship.

Luke 14:13, 14

[Jesus said], “But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

b. In everyday life…

Don’t take advantage of the poor!  Don’t deny them just wages because they are desperate for money.  Don’t deny them justice because they can’t afford a fancy lawyer.  Don’t overtax them because they can’t afford an accountant. (Deuteronomy 15:9; Proverbs 14:31; 17:5; 22:22)

Proverbs 29:7

The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,

The wicked does not understand such concern.

As wrong as it is to show partiality for the rich, it is just as wrong to show partiality for the poor!

2. Show No Partiality For The Poor (Ex. 23:3; Lev. 19:15).

Just because a wealthy person can pay more doesn’t mean we should take advantage of him.  Don’t punish the wealthy because your envious of their wealth.  Justice, according to the Bible, should have nothing to do with a person’s financial status. 

C. MAKE SPECIAL PROVISION FOR THE TRULY POOR.

The Bible makes special provision for the truly poor.

1. No Interest!

In ancient Israel, the truly poor weren’t required to pay interest (Exodus 22:25).  The idea is that they were borrowing what they needed to survive.  If something is given to the poor, then repayment should not be expected and if it is expected, it should not be with interest.

2. Less Offering!

In Ancient Israel, the poor were allowed to give less to the temple for the same ceremony (Leviticus 5:7, 11).

D. DON’T HELP THOSE WHO CAN HELP THEMSELVES.

2 Thessalonians 3:10b

if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.

I don’t want to lump everyone into one category.  I don't know every situation, but surely if people can stand outside Walmart all day long in all kinds of weather to get handouts, they can stand inside Walmart and greet people to provide for themselves and bless others.

A friend of mine once offered a job to a man standing at Walmart and the man said he wasn’t interested.  He made more money simply standing there.  These people probably don’t need our help, let alone our money.

E.  HELP THOSE WHO CAN’T HELP THEMSELVES TO HELP THEMSELVES.

It’s interesting that while Jesus advocates giving money to the poor (Mark 10:21), I couldn’t find anywhere in the Gospels where Jesus actually did (Matthew 26:11).  Maybe he did and I missed it.  Perhaps it just wasn’t recorded (John 13:29).  Regardless, more often Jesus solved the problem that caused the poverty.  He healed the lame, the blind, and others.  He gave them what they needed to help themselves. 

In Peter’s epic response to a beggar, he said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!”   Jesus and the Apostles provided a way for poor people to escape poverty. 

A question to consider:

Do you think we sometimes give money to the poor because we don’t know what else to do?

Or maybe we know what to do, but we don’t want to bother with the time and difficulty of doing what is needed so we throw money at the problem.  You see, giving money is beneficial.  It helps us feel like we are doing something without really doing anything.  It makes us look good in the eyes of those watching.  But it isn’t really beneficial because poverty isn’t one size fits all and what is needed is usually more than we are willing to invest.

Conclusion

Giving money might solve an immediate need and make us feel good about ourselves.  The Bible says: Honor the poor. Be impartial to the poor.  Make allowances for the poor.  Help poor people help themselves.  This provides for their needs and gives them dignity in the process.

Next time: Why should we help the poor and when should we not?

]]>
How Is Your Walk? https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/blog https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/blog#comments Wed, 05 Sep 2018 14:00:00 -0500 https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/blog Have you ever counted the number of meanings that belong to a word?  Take the word walk for instance.

Sometimes, when a person uses the word walk he means putting one foot in front of the other, but other times the walk has absolutely nothing to do with walking.

Sometimes walking means floating, if you are spacewalking.

Sometimes walking means you failed to pitch a ball into the strike zone.

It can also mean escaping without a scratch when you walk away from an accident.  

Something else you might walk away from is a fight, but whether you walk or run or back up slowly isn’t the point.  The point is you didn’t fight.

Actors walk through a play, but they really mean practice.  And dancers mean the same thing when they walk through a routine.

What do you call it when you exercise your pet?  Walking.

What do you say when a criminal escapes conviction on a technicality?  “He walked.”

If you have some complicated instructions and you want to communicate them well, you might walk through them with the person whom you are instructing.

Surveyors when they survey, walk a boundary.

Very interesting, when a person walks out on someone they are breaking up, but if they step out with the same person they’re going on a date.  

Walking together means living with one another in peace.  

If you walk all over someone you take advantage of them.   

Walking on eggshells means you are nervous.  Walking off means stealing. And if you walk the plank you’re dead.  And yes, oddly enough, sometimes walking does mean simply putting one foot in front of the other.

There is another meaning for walk from the Bible, that we still use today.  We find it in Genesis 5.

Genesis 5:21-24 (emphasis mine)

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah.  Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters.  Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

Here walk means “course or manner of life.”  This is a use of the word walk familiar to us in English also. 

Isaiah 50:10 (emphasis mine)

Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
    and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
    and rely on his God.

Let him whose manner of life is darkness (sin) trust in God.

Ephesians 5:15

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Paul is saying “Be careful about your manner of life.”

Walking in the Bible always has to do with obedience, but different kinds of walking stress different aspects of relationship to God.  For example, in Genesis 17:1, Abram was commanded to “walk before God and be blameless.”  This means that Abram was to live with the conscious realization that he was accountable to an observant and holy God.  The King James version of Deuteronomy 13:4 commands God’s people to “walk after Him.”  The emphasis there is that God has shown us the way to walk and we are to follow Him.  When we say “Enoch walked with God,” we do mean obedience, but the emphasis is on a close, intimate relationship with God that goes along with obedience.

Hebrews 11:5, 6

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

?  How is your walk?

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

The purpose of this blogsite is to encourage people in their walk with Jesus.  Here you will find studies that stress personal application from biblical texts and spiritual truths.  Some of the subjects into which we delve will be a series of their own, but others might be reflections from a recent sermon or Bible Study.  If there is a subject that would like to see addressed here, email Pastor Scott at pastor.scar@outlook.com.

Until next time, May God bless you richly as you walk in obedience to Jesus Christ.

]]>
Have you ever counted the number of meanings that belong to a word?  Take the word walk for instance.

Sometimes, when a person uses the word walk he means putting one foot in front of the other, but other times the walk has absolutely nothing to do with walking.

Sometimes walking means floating, if you are spacewalking.

Sometimes walking means you failed to pitch a ball into the strike zone.

It can also mean escaping without a scratch when you walk away from an accident.  

Something else you might walk away from is a fight, but whether you walk or run or back up slowly isn’t the point.  The point is you didn’t fight.

Actors walk through a play, but they really mean practice.  And dancers mean the same thing when they walk through a routine.

What do you call it when you exercise your pet?  Walking.

What do you say when a criminal escapes conviction on a technicality?  “He walked.”

If you have some complicated instructions and you want to communicate them well, you might walk through them with the person whom you are instructing.

Surveyors when they survey, walk a boundary.

Very interesting, when a person walks out on someone they are breaking up, but if they step out with the same person they’re going on a date.  

Walking together means living with one another in peace.  

If you walk all over someone you take advantage of them.   

Walking on eggshells means you are nervous.  Walking off means stealing. And if you walk the plank you’re dead.  And yes, oddly enough, sometimes walking does mean simply putting one foot in front of the other.

There is another meaning for walk from the Bible, that we still use today.  We find it in Genesis 5.

Genesis 5:21-24 (emphasis mine)

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah.  Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters.  Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

Here walk means “course or manner of life.”  This is a use of the word walk familiar to us in English also. 

Isaiah 50:10 (emphasis mine)

Who among you fears the Lord
    and obeys the voice of his servant?
Let him who walks in darkness
    and has no light
trust in the name of the Lord
    and rely on his God.

Let him whose manner of life is darkness (sin) trust in God.

Ephesians 5:15

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Paul is saying “Be careful about your manner of life.”

Walking in the Bible always has to do with obedience, but different kinds of walking stress different aspects of relationship to God.  For example, in Genesis 17:1, Abram was commanded to “walk before God and be blameless.”  This means that Abram was to live with the conscious realization that he was accountable to an observant and holy God.  The King James version of Deuteronomy 13:4 commands God’s people to “walk after Him.”  The emphasis there is that God has shown us the way to walk and we are to follow Him.  When we say “Enoch walked with God,” we do mean obedience, but the emphasis is on a close, intimate relationship with God that goes along with obedience.

Hebrews 11:5, 6

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

?  How is your walk?

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

The purpose of this blogsite is to encourage people in their walk with Jesus.  Here you will find studies that stress personal application from biblical texts and spiritual truths.  Some of the subjects into which we delve will be a series of their own, but others might be reflections from a recent sermon or Bible Study.  If there is a subject that would like to see addressed here, email Pastor Scott at pastor.scar@outlook.com.

Until next time, May God bless you richly as you walk in obedience to Jesus Christ.

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The Poor: Who, Why and How to Help, Part 1 https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/by-scott-carlson https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/by-scott-carlson#comments Wed, 05 Sep 2018 14:00:00 -0500 https://www.wahoocommunitychurch.org/blog/post/by-scott-carlson I was recently having conversation over coffee with my second oldest when we came to the subject of helping the poor.  As with many young Jesus’ followers, she and her husband have a real heart to help others.  Yet as our conversation continued, the honorable notion of helping gave way to the practical questions of who, why and how. 

Who do we help?  Who is poor?  Is it the Vietnam Veteran at Walmart? Is it the person who approaches you at the gas station asking for money to fill their car? 

And why?  I know the Bible verses, but it seems people use verses as calls to actions without understanding what the Bible says about why we should be helping.

And how?  What form should our help take?  A meal? A job?  A car?  A place to live?  

In all the fervor for social justice these days, my concern is that our actions are more kneejerk reactions to the tragedy of poverty than truly helping the truly poor for a biblical reason. 

So, let’s try to understand what the Bible says.

I.  Who Is Poor?

The common biblical words for “poor,” is the Hebrew rosh[i] and the Greek ptochos[ii].  These mean “someone who is destitute, in need because they lack power or ability to provide for themselves.”  Often, the words “widow” and “orphan” personify the word “poor” because these were utterly without ability to care for themselves in the ancient world (James 1:27 & 2:2; Deut. 10:18; 24:12 (notice the inclusion here of alien)).  In the New Testament, Jesus helped the blind and lame (Acts 20:35). 

Another group identified in the Bible as poor are those who became so by laziness or wickedness (Prov. 20:13; 21:17).  This being said, we should realize that poverty in itself is not sinful (1 Sam. 2:7).  Neither should it be a social stigma.  The poor are not a different class of people. Poor and the rich are equal before the Lord (Prov. 22:2).

Another group seems to be those who have become poor because of integrity (Prov. 28:16).  Perhaps there was a shady financial scheme of which they wanted no part. So, they lost their money and kept their integrity, while others lost their integrity but became rich. 

Yet, when it comes to helping, the Bible doesn’t seem to distinguish between those who became poor because of circumstances and those who became poor because of sin.  All the poor who are truly poor need of help. 

Who are the truly poor? 

Truly Poor: Those who have little or no capacity to provide for themselves regardless of how they became that way. 

This definition rules out poverty as a lesser lifestyle than those around you. It also rules out the government’s poverty line as an indicator.  I’ve lived below that line at times, but never considered myself poor.  The Bible says that if one has basic provisions, he should be content (1 Timothy 6:8).  There is a term in Greek for those who are relatively less well off.[iii] These we are not commanded to help.  Biblical poverty is the reality that if “I don’t get basic provision (food, clothing, water, and shelter), I will die (1 Kings 17:8-16) or I will be sold into slavery (2 Kings 4:1-7).” 

For good or for ill, the United States government tends to basic provision.  Where they fail, local community programs step in.  Where they fail, we have homeless shelters and missions.  I’m sure we’ve all heard the statistic “1 in 5 (or 6) children are starving in America.”  Citing USDA statistics, economist Paul Roderick Gregory suggests the number is closer to 1 in 100 than 1 in 5 due to the many safety nets in place to provide basic needs.[iv]  

This being the case, I daresay the truly poor are not the poor who are most easily seen or obviously in need. 

Who are the truly poor in your sphere of influence?  You can judge for yourself, but let me offer some suggestions.  I can imagine certain foreign refugees are biblically poor. A foster child or a child in need of adoption might qualify.  Some of the most helpless people in the world are trafficked children. And yes, we should keep our eyes open for those 1 in 100 who reportedly aren’t fed on a regular basis, who slip through the cracks.

Let’s do some good for the truly poor!

 

[i] “rosh,” Domeris, W. R. in New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology, Edited by Willem A. VanGemeren (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997), vol. 3, p 1085.

[ii] “poor,” Brown, C. in New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Edited by Colin Brown (Grand Rapids Mich,: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), vol. 2, p 821ff.

[iii] “poor,” Coenen, L. in New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Edited by Colin Brown (Grand Rapids Mich,: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), vol. 2, p 820, 21.

[iv] https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2011/11/20/are-one-in-five-american-children-hungry/#7ebc20a9eb26, September 2018.

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I was recently having conversation over coffee with my second oldest when we came to the subject of helping the poor.  As with many young Jesus’ followers, she and her husband have a real heart to help others.  Yet as our conversation continued, the honorable notion of helping gave way to the practical questions of who, why and how. 

Who do we help?  Who is poor?  Is it the Vietnam Veteran at Walmart? Is it the person who approaches you at the gas station asking for money to fill their car? 

And why?  I know the Bible verses, but it seems people use verses as calls to actions without understanding what the Bible says about why we should be helping.

And how?  What form should our help take?  A meal? A job?  A car?  A place to live?  

In all the fervor for social justice these days, my concern is that our actions are more kneejerk reactions to the tragedy of poverty than truly helping the truly poor for a biblical reason. 

So, let’s try to understand what the Bible says.

I.  Who Is Poor?

The common biblical words for “poor,” is the Hebrew rosh[i] and the Greek ptochos[ii].  These mean “someone who is destitute, in need because they lack power or ability to provide for themselves.”  Often, the words “widow” and “orphan” personify the word “poor” because these were utterly without ability to care for themselves in the ancient world (James 1:27 & 2:2; Deut. 10:18; 24:12 (notice the inclusion here of alien)).  In the New Testament, Jesus helped the blind and lame (Acts 20:35). 

Another group identified in the Bible as poor are those who became so by laziness or wickedness (Prov. 20:13; 21:17).  This being said, we should realize that poverty in itself is not sinful (1 Sam. 2:7).  Neither should it be a social stigma.  The poor are not a different class of people. Poor and the rich are equal before the Lord (Prov. 22:2).

Another group seems to be those who have become poor because of integrity (Prov. 28:16).  Perhaps there was a shady financial scheme of which they wanted no part. So, they lost their money and kept their integrity, while others lost their integrity but became rich. 

Yet, when it comes to helping, the Bible doesn’t seem to distinguish between those who became poor because of circumstances and those who became poor because of sin.  All the poor who are truly poor need of help. 

Who are the truly poor? 

Truly Poor: Those who have little or no capacity to provide for themselves regardless of how they became that way. 

This definition rules out poverty as a lesser lifestyle than those around you. It also rules out the government’s poverty line as an indicator.  I’ve lived below that line at times, but never considered myself poor.  The Bible says that if one has basic provisions, he should be content (1 Timothy 6:8).  There is a term in Greek for those who are relatively less well off.[iii] These we are not commanded to help.  Biblical poverty is the reality that if “I don’t get basic provision (food, clothing, water, and shelter), I will die (1 Kings 17:8-16) or I will be sold into slavery (2 Kings 4:1-7).” 

For good or for ill, the United States government tends to basic provision.  Where they fail, local community programs step in.  Where they fail, we have homeless shelters and missions.  I’m sure we’ve all heard the statistic “1 in 5 (or 6) children are starving in America.”  Citing USDA statistics, economist Paul Roderick Gregory suggests the number is closer to 1 in 100 than 1 in 5 due to the many safety nets in place to provide basic needs.[iv]  

This being the case, I daresay the truly poor are not the poor who are most easily seen or obviously in need. 

Who are the truly poor in your sphere of influence?  You can judge for yourself, but let me offer some suggestions.  I can imagine certain foreign refugees are biblically poor. A foster child or a child in need of adoption might qualify.  Some of the most helpless people in the world are trafficked children. And yes, we should keep our eyes open for those 1 in 100 who reportedly aren’t fed on a regular basis, who slip through the cracks.

Let’s do some good for the truly poor!

 

[i] “rosh,” Domeris, W. R. in New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology, Edited by Willem A. VanGemeren (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997), vol. 3, p 1085.

[ii] “poor,” Brown, C. in New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Edited by Colin Brown (Grand Rapids Mich,: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), vol. 2, p 821ff.

[iii] “poor,” Coenen, L. in New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Edited by Colin Brown (Grand Rapids Mich,: Zondervan Publishing House, 1986), vol. 2, p 820, 21.

[iv] https://www.forbes.com/sites/paulroderickgregory/2011/11/20/are-one-in-five-american-children-hungry/#7ebc20a9eb26, September 2018.

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