Give to the Poor

If you were to ask someone on the street to describe Christians what would they say? Many people I know would describe Christians as picky critics, judgmental and narrow minded. And I believe they are unfortunately too often right. But that is merely a description of weak human beings and is not the Christianity taught by its founder Jesus Christ. How many would describe Christians as those who are glad to give to the poor? Unfortunately a brand of so-called Christian politics has developed where we find excuses not to give to the poor. How strange is that? Rather than rushing to find ways to help the poor and needy, somehow we believe that Jesus’ command to give to the poor is excluded from Christian politics? What kind of description of Christians is that? Do I hear the word selfish?

What God Requires of the Wealthy

The Responsibilities
of Wealth

As class warfare threatens, a question needs to be asked: What does God require of the wealthy? Wealth can be gained by good or evil means. Wealthy people also have a greater capacity for good or evil. Wealth does bring a greater responsibility for doing good in the world. In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus went on to illustrate how those who have been given much can do so much more for God. In Luke 12:41-48 he reminded us that to whom much is given much is required. Warren Buffett has been preaching that the wealthy need to pay a greater share of taxes, but that is only a small part of the story. Wealthy people have far more capacity to show love to their neighbors in practical ways than the average person. Love for neighbor is what God requires.

No Little Flock Forever

Black Mustard Seeds

What kind of plant was the mustard tree of Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52? Some experts believe it was the black mustard. It is a herb which can grow to three modern meters (ten old-fashioned feet) tall. Was this a contradiction to other descriptions of the kingdom being a small flock? While this may seem to indicate that the church of God would be small, the parable of the mustard seed gives the exact opposite impression. Perhaps they are two sides of the same story of the kingdom. The mustard seed certainly did correlate to the smallness of the kingdom in the beginning. However, it told a far greater future than an exclusive, perpetually “small flock.” Indeed, where Jesus did use the term “little flock?” He was addressing his disciples, not the eventual size of the Church (Luke 12:22, 32).

Conflict and sowing seed

In Luke 12:49-56 Jesus focused on conflict in the Christian life. In his story of the sower and the seed (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23) Jesus spoke of seed sown in three areas of trouble. There are attacks from Satan on life’s path, persecution on life’s rocky ground, and life’s worries and the deceitfulness of riches among the thorns. With so much conflict how can we be fruitful? The parable of the sower and the seed gives us a clue in that we hear the word and understand. We need to see that Jesus’ warning of conflict was addressed to the twelve disciples who were the most zealous and not the larger group of 70 or 120 or more. Those Christians who are most zealous and least complacent often put making peace with God ahead of making peace with family.

A life without conflict

A naturalist once picked up a cocoon and feeling sorry for the butterfly about to emerge he pulled out his pocket knife and slit the cocoon open. The butterfly which emerged was weak and unable to muster the strength to fly. So it is with our children. If we pamper them too much, they will grow up weak and unable to survive the trials of life. America became a great country because people had to struggle and build a country from the rough and hostile environment. Now so much of America lives in luxury with grocery shelves filled with food from afar. And we are a civilization in decline. We don’t have the toughness any longer. We are soft and spoiled. Perhaps that is why Jesus allows his church to go through conflict (Luke 12:49-56), to make us strong.

Unnecessary conflict

While some conflict is unavoidable and possibly even necessary (Luke 12:49-56) not all conflict is. For instance, the conflict between conservatives and liberals in the church is often just an argument over two sides of the same coin. Conservatives are concerned with righteous living, piety. Liberals are concerned with social justice, loving their neighbor in action. When it comes to the Gospel, conservatives are concerned with telling the good news, liberals are concerned with being the good news. Both are needed. We need to live moral lives AND seek justice for the poor. We need to both announce the good news of salvation in Jesus AND be the good news to those in need. Both conservatives and liberals have weaknesses. We cannot be self-righteous about our side of the coin, but realize that we can learn from each other.

Conflict is not always failure

Are we free of conflict in western Christianity because we live in freedom-loving countries or are we relatively free of conflict because our Christianity is watered down? Jesus promised conflict, a baptism of fire (Luke 12:49-56). When a church is in conflict we often assume it is because they are carnal Christians, more worldly minded than heavenly. While that is sometimes the case, it may not always be. The church is where the battle between evil and good begins. The church is the war room for the battle that we take to our neighborhoods. Not everyone wants to make peace with God. Not everyone wants to hear about Jesus. Not everyone wants to hear about a change of heart from evil to good. Sometimes, rather than stand up for Jesus, we make peace with the devil. That is failure.

Conflict avoidance is impossible

Naive Christians are shocked by it. Older Christians try to avoid it. But, where human beings are conflict is unavoidable. We cannot always run and hide. Sometimes it hits us square in the face. So, we should not be shocked that it sometimes comes around, and be prepared for it when it does. When Jesus preached about his bringing conflict (Luke 12:49-56), he was on his way to Jerusalem to be crucified. We must also remember that although in our country converting to Christianity sometimes causes family division, in Muslim, Hindu and many other societies it almost always does. Conflict can be good for us. That’s why Jesus said that he came to bring fire, because like fire purifies metals conflict can purify us. A Christian who has seen many battles is deeper than one who has been mollycoddled.

What some televangelists won’t teach

A false gospel of health and wealth is a popular message among televangelists, but it is materialistic and not spiritual. Such preachers cherry pick only positive scriptures and ignore the balance of those warning against materialism and demanding self-sacrifice. Just as in ancient times people hire false prophets to preach smooth things. We can’t handle the truth. Today’s false prophets live in million dollar mansions and fly private jets. They ignore Jesus’ teachings of denying ourselves and taking up our cross, and ignore the question of what profit is it if a man gains the whole world but loses his own soul? They ignore Jesus’ warnings to the wealthy and encouragement to a rich young man to sell his possessions. They ignore his encouragement for all of us to sell unnecessary possessions and give to the poor (Luke 12:32-40).

Give to the poor

People sometimes portray the poor as lazy and a drain on the public purse. Is that really the whole truth? Are there not also dozens of other reasons why people become poor? Recently I have spoken to people who have lost their homes due to medical bills and heard of doctors who refuse to treat the elderly because there is not enough money in it. When local jobs are sent overseas to countries without a minimum wage, many hard-working folks are forced into low incomes and poverty. Jesus said something remarkable defending the poor. He challenged believers to sell their possessions and give to the poor. This was not an appeal for donations to the church, but for the poor. When we neglect the poor or falsely accuse them, are we not also ignoring a fundamental of Christ’s teachings?

Liturgical pomp

As I watched the elaborate ceremony, people dressed in fine regalia, precision movements and people kneeling in practiced unison, I could only think how far distant it was from the way that Jesus did things. It is not a sin to be dressed well, nor is it evil to have order and majesty in a church service. There are examples of that in both Old Testament practice and the brief descriptions of heaven that we read in the Bible. However, none of those things is central to Christianity. Without a care for the poor and weak among us, is our religion impure and hollow? Without a willingness to sell our possessions so that someone else may eat, is our religion just a cheap fake and not the Christianity of Christ? Liturgical pomp is no substitute for care of the poor.

Describe a Christian

If you were to ask someone on the street to describe a Christian what would they say? Many people I know would describe Christians as picky critics, judgmental and narrow minded. And I believe they are unfortunately often right. But that is merely a description of weak human beings and is not the Christianity taught by its founder Jesus Christ. How many would describe Christians as those who are glad to give to the poor? Unfortunately a brand of so-called Christian politics has developed where we find excuses not to give to the poor. How strange is that? Rather than rushing to find ways to help the poor and needy, somehow we believe that Jesus’ command to give to the poor is excluded from Christian politics? What kind of description of Christians is that? Do I hear the word selfish?

Liberal pinko agenda

To some Christians, words like social gospel and social justice carry images of liberal Christians who don’t believe in a living Jesus Christ and the Gospel that he preached. It seems that the good news has been substituted for just another do-good charity which takes care of physical needs and neglects spiritual needs. As in all things human, there is partial truth on both sides of the argument. What is really important is not our modern terms or perceptions, but what Jesus actually taught. When it comes to some issues which are demanded of Christians, Jesus is quite clear. In fact his request is couched in typical hyperbolic Jesus-terms. He simply said, sell your possessions and give to the poor. If that’s a liberal pinko agenda, then I don’t know too many on the left or right who are willing.

Hard Christianity

In Luke 12:32-40 Jesus says to be ready for his return. Much speculation as to what that readiness concerns seems taken out of context. Some have said be ready in prayer. Others have said to be ready in spreading the Gospel. Still others have said to be ready in obedience to this or that tradition or command of men. Yet none of those things explains the context of Jesus’ instructions, where he focused on giving to the poor. There are many versions of easy Christianity. Being involved in a church, keeping religious feasts, traditions, and being a good neighbor, praying and waiting on miracles do not necessarily have to involve much sacrifice. However, could it just be that some small part of being ready for Christ’s return involves hard Christianity such as selling possessions and giving to the poor?

Be ready & invest well

Some of us have wisely prepared for the future with a savings buffer for bad times and retirement. Many of us are probably not prepared. There is another kind of preparation that Jesus encourages us to do. In Luke 12:32-40 he says to invest in eternity by giving to the poor. In so doing we provide purses for ourselves that will not wear out and a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted or fail. Even the best retirement plans can be wiped out in a moment by war, recession or disaster. Treasures that we accumulate are always in danger of theft. The world’s greatest treasures eventually decay and rot. Only one treasure is permanent and incorruptible: treasure in heaven. When we give to the poor, we reap eternal dividends. Let’s prepare for Christ’s return by investing now.

A Free Gift

While many Christians are stingy and selfish, some seem to be the exact opposite. Some believe that their good works can get them into heaven and are driven by guilt rather than love for neighbor. What are our motives? The challenge is to do good works, not out of necessity, but out of love. At the beginning of his challenge to give to the poor in Luke 12:32-40 Jesus reminded us that our Father in heaven has been pleased to give us the kingdom. We do not earn it. It is a gift. However, once having been given that gift, we are faced with a decision. What do we invest in heaven and what do we invest on earth? Are we living heavenly lives now? We don’t give to qualify for eternity with God. That is a free gift.

Kingdom Come & Kingdom Here

In the act of caring for the sick or feeding the hungry, we are doing so to Jesus. The Bible describes God’s kingdom as coming yet also here. It means the rule of God, and that means that as we submit to that rule it is also here now. In Luke 12:32-40 Jesus reminded us that God has been pleased to give us the kingdom, not that he will be pleased to give us the kingdom. It is a gift that has already been given. All we need do is accept it by submitting to that rule. And what is God’s kingdom doing? Among other things, it is detaching itself from materialism and giving to the poor. Where our treasure is, is a litmus test of where our hearts are, in the kingdom of this world or of God.

Yard sale religion

Who would have ever thought of a yard sale as religious. Some of us enjoy yard sales, especially if it means getting rid of some stuff that we don’t need, accumulated junk that clutters up our lives. We may also look forward to a meal in a nice restaurant or perhaps even a new purchase with the money we made. Instead of spending the money we make on our next yard sale, perhaps there is a suggestion for us in the teachings of Jesus (Luke 12:32-40). Would we want to give the money to charity? As a pastor I spend a lot of time and effort preparing sermons and worship services. But all of that religious activity is worthless (Isaiah 1:10-20) if I am not involved in true religion (James 1:27) giving to the needy among us.

What they don’t teach in accounting school

Accountants are paid pessimists, counterbalancing the optimism of entrepreneurs and evangelists. But there is one thing they don’t teach in accounting school, liquidating assets to give money to the poor (Luke 12:32-40). Nationally, bailouts of big business, space and military budgets pass while money for the poor always meets strong resistance. In business, we would rather spend money on R&D and M&A than help the poor. Individually, we would rather buy another boat or vacation home than help the poor. In a timeless principle, God condemns a nation that engages in religious worship but neglects the poor (Isaiah 1:10-20). God gave ancient Israel a national budget, the third year tithe specifically to help the poor, plus individual responsibility. Helping the needy is true religion and so important to God that he mentioned it throughout the Bible.

Fear not

A culture of fear blocks out people’s ability to think and helps politicians get their way. But Jesus has not called us to a fear religion. He has called us to be people of faith. That’s why Jesus said to his disciples, Fear not little flock, literally meaning don’t be terrified. The phrase “little flock” specifically refers to the small group of disciples. Later that flock grew to 3,000 and millions more as the good news has now spread around the world. But, the temptation to feel terrorized is still with us. One of our biggest fears is still economic. We are tempted to hoard. But Jesus encourages us that hoarding is the opposite of faith. He wants us to sell some things that we don’t need for survival and give the money to the poor (Luke 12:32-40).