March 9, 2014
A CHRISTIAN’S RESPONSIBILITY TO THE LEAST FORTUNATE?
“Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen.” Ezekiel 16:49-50 (NKJV)
Sodom was destroyed because of their pride, and their excess of food while the poor and needy suffered. The bible maintains a clear position on the poor throughout its pages, and, interestingly, “it has less to do with them, than it has to do with us and how we treat the poor.”
In Deuteronomy 15:11 it says There will always be the poor in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land..” Proverbs 21:13 (NKJV) is among the most powerful calls from God to help those who are hungry.
“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.” 1 John 3:17(KJV) states that, “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”
In Matthew 25:31-40 (NKJV) Christ tells His faithful Children who loved as He loved “to Come, you blessed of My Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world, because whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
As Christians We must not forget our eternal destiny is shaped by how we treat the poor and needy. My friends we will not enter God’s kingdom, from church attendance, or how much tithe or charitable organizations we supported. Christ tells us
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31 (NKJV)
So as Children of God we must love and Care for others with a passion as Christ loved, especially for the vulnerable and needed. Even when this is not motivated by our community, Church, or government. It must become personal.
So today I don’t speak to the world or to the “fool who says in his heart, “There is no God.” For they are corrupt, their deeds are vile ”Ps. 14:1 (NIV) But I speak to the Christian whose destiny is God’s pure and holy kingdom. Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Luke says “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor…. ” (Luke 4:18) And once we as Christians have taken care of one’s physically needs it will be easy to lead them to the love of Christ, because they already see Christ in us.
So as the world moves farther away from Gods will and responsibility to the poor, ask yourself how can I as a Christian keep from “conforming to the pattern of this world. “Dr. King, always a believer in nonviolent civil obedience, spent his last month’s organizing the national Poor People’s Campaign, which sought to bring low-income Americans from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.
As he focused on poverty he also dramatize the pressing need for jobs, income, healthcare, and 
housing; as he also raise essential questions about the gap between the rich and poor in America.” “All too many of those who live in affluent America ignore those who exist in poor America.” (Dr. King)
But forty five years later, America still has not gotten it, even though we are at a crossroad in history, as we move further into the 21 century, and Christ soon return. So today ask yourself how can I as a Christian keep from “conforming to the pattern of this world, as I transform my mind, and character too carry out God’s will in my life. And in the end, the Master will present each of His Faithful with our reward eternal life.
So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY
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