Bible Reading: Psalm 82:2, 3 & Mark 16:15
How do you react when you see a person whose clothes looked worn or patched? What do you think about a person who drives a car painted in Bondo and rust?
As Christians, we know that God expects us to treat that person with the same kindness and respect with which we would treat someone wearing designer clothes or driving a Porsche. He also wants us to reach out and help meet their needs. Jesus said that when we help those in need, we have helped Jesus, himself.
There is another kind of poverty that is even worse than living on a shoestring budget. That is, spiritual poverty. Spiritual poverty is living without Jesus Christ as one’s Savior. We are to reach out to all people in love and tell them about Jesus. We are to help them out of physical and spiritual poverty.
This command is repeated many times in both the Old and New Testaments. For example, Psalm 82:2 & 3 says, “Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” Then Mark 16:15 says, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” The world is filled with people who don’t know Jesus. People who are living in spiritual poverty.
How do you treat those around you who are living in spiritual poverty, people who don’t have Jesus in their lives? Do you avoid them, not wanting to be seen with them? Do you think that you are better than they are? Or do you reach out to them, eager to share the wealth that you have in Jesus by telling them about God’s great love for them and how they can become rich in Christ?
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9
Prayer: Heavenly Father, use me to help eliminate the spiritual poverty in the world.In Jesus’ name.Amen.