Ministry Framework
God's Heart for the Poor
In Proverbs 14:20-21, Solomon reflects on the deeply painful and tormenting experience of the poor. He points to the systemic and community affects of poverty and describes the difficulty of every day life for those who are poor and disenfranchised. He magnifies the reality that even their neighbors shun them. The people that you would think they could depend on, avoid them.
So, who can help them and what does God think about them? Is there anyone out there that could be a friend – a true neighbor?
Verse 21 says that the one that is kind to the needy is blessed. The word kind implies that they are friendly, merciful and generous. They care about the poor and needy. They are sympathetic to the needs of others. They want what is best and they engage in making the best things happen for the needy. They are the true neighbors (good Samaritans). They may not be from the same neighborhood, culture or race, but they see a need and they engage in the battle.
Good News for the Poor
Luke tells us that, at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, he quoted the prophet Isaiah when asked to read the Scriptures in the synagogue. "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed..." and then He said, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." (Luke 4:18-21). In other words, Jesus was announcing that He was the one whom the Scriptures foretold would preach the good news to the poor.
And what was this "good news" that he was to preach to the poor? Mark 1:15 tells us that Jesus said, "The time has come...The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" Jesus was saying that God would soon openly reveal His plan of salvation from sin and misery. You might be wondering what that plan entailed, and how you could have such good news also.
The Bible records God's love for the humans He created. He enjoyed walking in the Garden of Eden with the first man, Adam. But Adam disobeyed the rules that God set up for his protection. Rather than killing Adam (physical death) as his rebellion deserved, God killed an animal to pay the price for Adam's sin, then banished him from the Garden and set a great gulf of spiritual separation (eternal death) between Adam and God.
Whenever man would sin--commit wrongful thoughts, words or deeds--God could not fellowship with man because God is holy and pure and can having nothing to do with sin. He cannot even look at sin. The system of animal sacrifice remained in place so that whenever God would look at man, instead of seeing man's sinfulness, He saw only the blood of an innocent lamb.
Jesus revealed God's plan to end the animal sacrifices on Passover, the day annually when an unblemished lamb was to be sacrified--killed and burned as an offering, a payment, for people's sins.
The Bible tells us that Jesus was the Son of God, born of a virgin named Mary. Therefore He was both divine (of God) and human. Though He had all the power of God, on Passover Jesus went willingly to His cruel death on a cross in order to fully pay in actuality the price that all the previous sacrifices had only covered over. Three days later, Jesus rose from His death and was seen by more than five hundred people.
The Bible says, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Rom. 10:9) Being saved from sin, misery and eternal death means that you believe this story of God's love, sin, sacrifice and new life, confessing with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord. In other words, you willingly yield your interests, will and actions to what He wants for you--you have that close relationship with Him that Adam and God once had--you love Him and thank Him for His wonderful plan and you enjoy His presence in your life by "hearing" what He says to you in the Bible.
As Isaiah said, and Jesus quoted, the good news brings freedom for those held prisoner by their sin, and gives sight to those who have been blind to how deep their sin and misery is, and it brings release from the oppression of poverty--not only poverty of worldly wealth, but poverty of soul without an intimate relationship with the eternal God who loves you.
If you have read this today and feel that you have a new understanding of God, of yourself as a sinner and of the chasm which only Jesus can cross in your behalf, tell Him. Repeat these words, "Lord Jesus, I see now that You are God and You are holy, and I am not. I see that I have made many mistakes in thought, word and deed, knowingly and unknowingly. Without You Jesus, I have nothing but an eternity of separation from God to look forward to. Thank you for dying on the cross to pay for my sins, and thank you for forgiving me so that I can have a relationship with You not just now, but forever. I give You control over my life and from this day forward, I will remember that You are my Lord. Help me to yield my interests, actions and will to Yours. In Jesus name. Amen."
If you sincerely prayed that prayer, then you can be sure that Jesus is now your Savior, Guide and Friend. Please get a copy of the Bible and begin to read the Book of John. Also, please tell someone in a Bible-believing church what you have just experienced. You will learn many things in the Bible, and getting connected with a church is a great help and safeguard. Whatever you do, continue to pray to God--about your life, about things you are reading in the Bible, and about the help you need. He is delighted to be part of your life!
