Serving the Poor – Page 3 – Dave R Phillips

November 19, 2019November 26, 2019

A Contemporary Parable

Shortly after publishing the last post, Seeing Jesus, three people unsubscribed to my blog. Perhaps I hit a nerve. Or maybe I’m finally speaking about some truth that needs to be exposed. I’m not the least bit offended by someone unsubscribing from this blog. Honestly, there is nothing profound about my words. Still, I enjoy the process of writing down my thoughts, and a few friends continue to encourage me, so I’m writing yet another idea for your consideration.

Before I jump into my parable, let me set the stage by providing the scripture that came to mind.

¹⁴ What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? ¹⁵ Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. ¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. James 2:14-17

I’m reminded of the Rich Mullins Screen Door song, “faith without works is like a song you can’t sing; it’s about as useless as a screen door on a submarine.”

James makes it clear; our faith provides the basis for good deeds. Faith and deeds. Zoë and I talk about the “and” requirement for meeting the needs of people across all walks of life. The need is great. We all need to lend a hand in solving many problems in our communities, but most importantly, we need to be people of action.

As I was getting ready for bed last night, I had a thought that would have kept me up writing late into the night, but I was too tired to stay up. It’s a privilege to be able to decide that I’m tired and I should go to bed, right? Earlier in the day, I was hanging around a room filled with people at Clean Start who don’t have that privilege–they don’t have that luxury.

The thought occurred to me, what if we only talked about religion but did nothing? The passage from James came to mind.

The Parable

We’ve been watching a lot of football lately. As an extravagant gift, we purchased an NFL Game Pass so we can watch an entire football game in about 45 minutes (the Condensed version). I don’t look at scores but have an algorithm that ranks games based on total points, spread, etc., so we can watch a game at night before retiring. We enjoy seeing a great game, especially one that’s close, but we do not like commercials or endless replays in super slow motion.

Now imagine a football team that met every day to discuss the rules. The last game we watched had dozens of penalties. Apparently, there needs to be a discussion about rules! Following the session on rules, the team talks about strategies, tactics, the best practices for offense and defense. I can imagine hearing the debate about defending against the run or the virtues of a long pass when the other team is caught off guard. It’s actually quite intriguing to watch. The team has all kinds of ideas, many of which have merit based on a particular scenario. But here’s the problem: all they are doing is talking about football. No one is actually on the field. The week is filled with talk. Endless talk. No action.

Now visit a local church that creates a warm, safe, and inviting gathering space for people, especially those with children. The music is invigorating. The message is captivating. Everyone is comfortable in talking about Jesus, His sacrifice, the need for salvation, repentance, and walking away from sinful temptations. Then everyone goes home. Done.

Thousands of people would not fill football stadiums to listen to someone talk about a football game. Why do thousands of people fill churches to talk about saving grace that is followed by little action?

When opportunities to serve inside the church outnumber opportunities to serve the community, I submit we have a problem. Serving in the church is great. It helps solve the logistical complexities of about 3 hours a week. Thank you for serving in the church. But if we are all about serving in the church, what have we become?

The Challenge

Do something. Anything. It doesn’t have to be something huge. It doesn’t even have to take long, but it must be something that involves loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself. Right?

Do it well and do it with all the gifts and talents that God has given you and within the time constraints that you must honor.

The Comfort

Here’s some comforting news: you’re not alone! There are hundreds of people in our County that wake up each day and wonder what they can do to make conditions better for someone else. They go to bed after a long day’s work and wake up trying to feed another family. They do simple things and great things. They are foster parents and non-profit CEOs. They are mentors, big brother, big sisters, and those that pack meals as Saturday Servants. They are all over the place, but there needs to be more.

Lord, I pray for a heart change that leads people to repentance and a great desire to love others like never before. May we be known as a people that serve and love others in ways that defy logic. Most importantly, may we honor you in all we do. May our faith lead to actions that make you smile.

November 16, 2019

Seeing Jesus

It’s been a while since I’ve written a post blog. It’s been more than a week since I’ve stopped to study the biblical reason for serving the least, the lost, and the lonely. To be sure, I think about this all the time. But thinking about something and acting on that thought is a whole different thing. The truth is this, I’ve been changed by looking at scripture through the lens of how God cares for His people, that is to say, everyone.

We’ve been taught to love God, love our neighbors, and love ourselves. Let’s linger there for a moment. My search was straightforward. All I did was enter the phrase, “love your neighbor,” and suddenly, the screen is filled with references. When I entered that phrase with quotes in Google, I got over 4 million responses in less than a second. Wow! Here are some specific references from the Bible:

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:39-40

and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Romas 13:9-10

For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. James 2:8

The same God who distilled all of the Law into a single statement demonstrates His care throughout the Bible. From Leviticus to James, the quotes above span hundreds of years. The entire law is fulfilled. That’s a huge statement! If that’s the case, and I’m confident it is, then we must be able to find evidence of this concept throughout the Bible. When I read from this perspective, the words come to life in a whole new way.

This morning I thought about the full days of the previous week. Zoë and I have been going non-stop, it seems, often in separate directions, but on the same mission. It’s been a compelling series of events to be sure, but I haven’t had the time to stop and write down my thoughts. I’m not feeling guilty about skipping out, not at all. It’s more of a longing to get back to a place where I can sit and bask in His glory. Then I saw His face. Well, the concept of His image.

What I sensed was a warm smile that looked at me with endless patience with the assurance that He was waiting for me. Joy began to fill my heart. Real joy.

“Take your time, son. I’m right here by your side. When you’re ready, let’s pick up the discussion again. I have lots to tell you. Way more than the brief thoughts you enjoy in the Bible.”

I have complete confidence that God is in control all the time. We need to move with a sense of urgency, but not in a manic state of haste. I’m so grateful for my time with Jesus, and I’m filled with joy when I think it only gets better when we’re done with our brief time on earth in this form.

So what does this all have to do with serving the least of these? I’m glad you asked. The next time you read the Bible or hear someone teach on a particular passage, look for the ways that God is showing His love for people. Notice that we don’t need to qualify people as rich or poor, tall or short, black or white, and so forth.

As we begin to look more like Jesus, we will naturally start to love others better. But just like thinking about writing is different than acting on the idea, love only comes to life when we do something. Can you love those in poverty if you are not somehow involved in serving others? Do you really care about feeding people if you’re not serving somewhere?

It’s really not hard, but it’s rarely convenient, and it always requires sacrifice.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. Psalm 103:6

God is so committed to this mission that He sent Jesus to die on the cross by the hands of the very people He was coming to save. If God is that committed, so must I move from thought to action.

Lord, we see your mighty hand in action all around us. We marvel at the way you work for good in ways that leave us speechless, at people who sacrifice without apology to reach out to those our society would rather not see. Lord, melt our hearts for that which burns in yours. Show us one small step we can make to change the direction of someone in need positively and wonderfully, even if we never see the results.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1

Amen.

November 1, 2019November 12, 2019

Pray With Those in Need

We need to remember the power of prayer, especially as we think of those that are living in desperate conditions. I’m sure you will agree with me that there is great power in prayer. Just last week, I heard a testimony that spoke to this power and the comfort that it brought when a handful of people stopped and prayed.

Instructions on Worship
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:1-6

I think it’s interesting that the NIV begins this passage with the title instructions on worship. For that’s what prayer is, isn’t it? When I thought about this passage today, especially the phrase, for all people — kings and all those in authority, I began to think of people who are in need, not just the leaders in charge, all people. We read the phrase, all people, three times in this short passage, so I’m confident Paul wants us to be inclusive. There are no boundaries in Christ Jesus. He paid the price for everyone, regardless of station or level in this life.

As I begin to pray, the names and faces of several people came to mind. I had a sense of the pain that these friends must feel every day. It’s only a glimpse, a tiny portion of what they must feel every day. Their PTSD is mostly TSD. There’s not much “post” in their traumatic stress.

Then another thought occurred to me: what if we prayed with those in need? Surely it’s important to pray for our brothers and sisters, but what if we found a way to pray with them? Most churches have a prayer night or time for intercessory prayer for the people. But what would happen if we took the time to gather together, hold hands, and pray with those in need?

And so today’s post is more of a challenge than a reflection on scripture, though I hope it’s both! I do believe these actions fit the theme of the passage:

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

Before I end this thought, please hear the reminder that this is an “and” proposition. Moving from a community of individuals toward a real community of faith will not happen by a single action, no matter how great that one step might be. We need to pray privately and together. We need to worship alone and corporately. We need to pray for those in need and with those in need. We need to pray for city and county leaders. The idea of “and” is essential.

My friend, Chad Wright-Pittman, provided this prayer to help us remember those in need:

Loving God,
Your grace and lovingkindness
toward us in Jesus Christ is unending.
Open our eyes
to those in need around us – need of any kind –
and show us
how we might pray
with and for them
that our hearts might be changed
and your kingdom might come
in some small way,
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Amen.
Rev. Chad Wright-Pittman

Now, may the peace of Christ be with you. May His presence be made known to you in new ways. Pass that peace onto others, even those that live on the margins and sleep on the streets.

October 27, 2019

Serve in Secret

In the famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus raises expectations to new heights across a wide swath of issues. The list includes murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, revenge, loving our enemies, prayer, fasting, greed, worrying, judging, and giving to the needy.

¹ Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. ²“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-4

As the words of Jesus wash over me this morning, I find myself sitting in quiet contemplation. The underlying assumption is that we are seeking to serve the needy in our communities. Everything in the short passage above assumes that we are actually reaching out to those in need. The point of the discourse is all about motivation, we’ll get to that point shortly, but the foundation is a people who know they are supposed to serve those in need.

I’m not sure our current culture identifies with this assertion. I know that sounds critical, but it seems our churches are filled with people that carve out an hour or so on Sundays but are so busy that they do not seek to serve the needy. We just don’t have time! Really?

Our Jewish ancestors knew they had a responsibility to the poor in the land. In a predominantly agrarian society, many were left out. Far before the world of finance and eBay, if you couldn’t make a living on the farm, you would quickly become poor. The poor were easy to identify. They lived at the mercy of those who had the margin to supply their needs.

Method Matters

Meeting someone’s immediate need is significant and essential. Jesus casts a light on the method, that is, our motivation behind such activity. The current study on serving the least, the lost, and the lonely is worthless if it is a study to draw attention to myself. While it is the last thing on my mind, the warning is vivid. Do not serve the poor to attract favorable attention.

You and I know this is the main point, but what happens if we get lost in the theme of keeping things secret?

³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Matthew 6:3-4

Is it possible to become so intent on secrecy that we don’t talk about serving others? Have we reversed the reversal to the point that we don’t do anything? Here’s what I mean: do we stop talking about helping the needy because we’re afraid to be criticized for being self-righteous? When we stop talking about the poor, guess what happens: the poor stop being served!

When we misread Jesus’ words to the point that we stop serving others “just in case” we’re viewed as being self-serving, we have wandered into a dangerous place. Jesus never intimated that we should not help the needy. Somehow we need to announce plans to serve without becoming pious.

Father Gregory Boyle helps span the gap. If you listen to any of his talks or read his books, you will walk away with this foundational principle that defuses any hint of self-righteousness:

The measure of our compassion lies not in our service of those on the margins, but only in our willingness to see ourselves in kinship with them. The compassion of Jesus is the one we seek. The one that can stand in awe of what the poor have to carry, rather than stand judgment at how they carry it. ¹

The Secret Sauce

The secret to secrecy then is to see those in need as our brothers and sisters. They are equal heirs to the throne. Equal. We are not bowing down to serve them; we are standing beside them out of love and compassion, not for any spotlight. We know there will come a day when success will not be measured in dollars or possessions. That day came when Jesus took the nails and bore our sins on the cross. His worthy sacrifice tore the veil from top to bottom and put an end to the old regime. The resurrection of Christ means that all have equal access. His life demonstrated over and over again that all lives matter to God.

By all means, serve the needy every day; serve others with a glad heart and with great joy. Lord help us to see it isn’t “us” versus “them.” Help us to see people with your eyes.

I’ll never forget the woman that spoke to me after we served breakfast for the Salvation Army. As we were getting ready to leave, she looked at me and said, “thanks for breakfast, and thanks for your smile.” That was worth more than anything in my bank account. It was a joy to hang out with the gathering for breakfast. Everyone there was welcoming and grateful. Why wouldn’t others want to join in the joy? Don’t be afraid to let others in on the secret.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 100

Lord Jesus, may we learn to serve our brothers and sisters with joy. May our kindness become contagious, so others will join until there is no one among us in need.

¹ Father Gregory Boyle expresses this in many forms. I found this on YouTube today: [video]

October 23, 2019October 23, 2019

Defend the Weak and the Fatherless

Asaph, a worship pastor from a few years ago, wrote a series of psalms that tells the story of Israel’s ups and downs. By the time we get toward the end of his contribution to the songbook, we read the following practical advice:

Defend the weak and the fatherless;
uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
Psalm 82:3-4

Asaph’s psalms read like a symphonic work for a full orchestra. The highs and lows lend themselves to rising crescendos and crashing cymbals. His dramatic flair for writing must have led to equally compelling music. I find it interesting to read psalms 50 and 73-83 together to understand Asaph’s thought process.

As David’s key music leader, I’m confident he was attuned to David’s heart. The words reflect emotions that stir in each of us if we’re honest. Frustration, impatience, and anger as people foolishly deny God’s existence following by joy when they seem to turn to Him for a while suddenly. That doesn’t last for long! Back to the pit. Deep despair for those who ignore the warnings.

By the time we get to Psalm 82, we hear the question one more time:

How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Psalm 82:2

At this point, Asaph provides the two verses we focus on today. There’s no doubt that this statement is in response to their inability to care for those in need. The question we need to ask ourselves is this: are we those who defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Is this us?

While I’m not one who has any desire to send others on a guilt-trip, the question is meant to cause each of us to take a close, introspective look at our hearts, but don’t dwell there. Rather than getting lost in looking back at mistakes of the past, Asaph provides guidance for our future in a few concise statements.

Defend the weak and the fatherless
Uphold the cause of the poor and those who are oppressed
Rescue the weak and needy
Deliver people from the hand of those who are wicked

Asaph’s symphony summarizes the story of Israel, of human failure, along with brief moments of glory. The music is playing in my head switches from bold major triads to dark and gloomy minors — just like the history of my life. But when we get to this section, the sun is rising, the sky is clear. The cool mist of dawn invites us into a new awakening. It’s a new day.

Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord — that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. Psalm 83:18

Today, let us agree to take on the mantle of the good judge, the true Savior. May we clothe ourselves in the righteousness of Jesus and see people through His loving and caring eyes.

Here’s an interesting reference for the Songs of Asaph: [Link to Website]

October 21, 2019

My Help and My Deliverer

Many of the psalms are attributed to King David. Frequently, we read words of desperation, prayers for help in times of trouble.

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
you are my God, do not delay.
Psalm 40:17

But as for me, I am poor and needy;
come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Lord, do not delay.
Psalm 70:5

I hope we learn to hear the psalms as musical offerings that appeal to a deeper sense than mere words describe. In the two verses offered here, it’s interesting to note the phrases that are essentially the same. The words are slightly different, but the thought is clearly the same: I am poor and needy — hurry up, God, and rescue me!

The phrase “poor and needy” does not necessarily depict someone who is bankrupt. David uses this phrase several times throughout Psalms, typically preceded by, “but as for me…” Some versions of the Bible translate the word “poor” as “afflicted.” This seems to be closer to the intended meaning. The NIV Study Bible provides a note to help clarify the meaning:

Here, as often in the Psalms, “poor’ characterizes not necessarily one who has no possessions but one who is (and recognizes that he is) without resources to effect his own deliverance (or secure his own life, safety or well-being)—and so is dependent on God. ¹

Given this perspective, we’re beginning to focus on the reason for reflecting on these verses today. Those who have few possessions might be considered poor, but those who cannot care for their safety or well-being are always poor.

King David recognizes his condition is hopeless without God. As the King, David had access to possessions, but all were meaningless without the presence of the Almighty. He wrote these songs to remind everyone that we’re all on the same level. We are all poor and needy without God.

When we zoom out and read 2 Samuel we see the rollercoaster David road throughout his life. This tumultuous time in history was barbaric and bloody. In David’s lifetime, the request for immediate physical rescue was very real. While we may not experience the life-or-death trama that David lived through, we are faced with eternal decisions every day.

Without Christ, we are all lost. David expresses the sense of urgency we should feel for those who have no relationship with Jesus. Those who are physically poor remind us of those who are spiritually bankrupt. As Father Gregory Boyle reminds us:

God said, ‘As I have loved you, you need to care for the widow, the orphan, the stranger,’” Boyle said. “These are the people likely to get cut off, but these people are trustworthy guides to kinship with God. ²

As we are privileged to serve the least, the lost, and the lonely, may we remember we are all poor and needy without the redeeming hope of Jesus Christ. He is our hope, our deliverer.

¹ NIV Study Bible notes from Psalm 34:6

² Morning Worship

October 19, 2019

Be Kind to the Needy

I think it’s obvious to say, but perhaps it needs to be restated, everyone should be kind to those in need. Sometimes we need to have a simple, brief reminder. Here are three verses from the book of Proverbs to read and reflect upon:

It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,
but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
Proverbs 14:21

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.Proverbs 14:31

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

Imagine that you prayed for wisdom, and God granted your request. In a moment or over time, difficult concepts became easy to grasp. Nothing was beyond your understanding. But even better than that, you were able to articulate these things in such a way that everyone understood. If that’s you, your name must be Solomon. Read 1 Kings 3:1-15, especially verses 9 and 12, for the story of Solomon’s request and God’s response.

In his wisdom, and at his best, Solomon wrote down his thoughts in ways that anyone can understand. The verses cited above are among hundreds attributed to him as The Proverbs of Solomon. There are 250 single statements that weave a tapestry of wisdom between Proverbs 10:1-18:5 alone. Along with wisdom, Solomon became the wealthiest man on earth, perhaps of all time. He could have anything he wanted.

As I read the proverbs, I get a sense of calm assurance. There is no need to shout or get excited about being kind to someone. Indeed, that seems contrary to the point. But it’s not a condescending attitude either. I’m not being kind to someone walking into the Salvation Army, Clean Start, LOT Project, or Mercy Center because I’ve labeled them as poor. And I’m not being kind because “the Bible says so.” Solomon’s advice here is not to look down on someone; instead, it is to look directly at those in need and show kindness. This honors God.

There will come a day when all the trappings of this earth will fade away. We will find ourselves standing before the Maker without keys to a fancy car or bank account that overflows with money. We will stand before him, as it were, in our birthday suit. There, before the King, who will look poor? Who will look rich? No one. We are all the same in the eyes of the Lord.

Be kind.

It’s more than a wise saying. Only the richest can truly be kind–and we are rich, my friends, we are exceedingly wealthy. We are sons and daughters of the Highest King. Our inheritance dwarfs Solomon’s royal vault at it’s highest. While our earthly possessions may not reflect such a majestic appearance, our hearts should be filled with joy beyond measure. Let that joy overflow and bless someone the world has labeled as poor. Embrace the outcast.

May we be known as those who are kind to everyone.

October 12, 2019

Remember the Poor

Pull up a chair. Sit and listen to the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Galatians:

All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along. Galatians 2:10

The impact of this single verse fails to convey the powerful punch with which it was intended to deliver. The verse comes in the middle of Paul’s appeal to others to understand his approach to spreading the Gospel. He wasn’t trying to justify his actions; instead, he was trying to show that though his methods were different, they were consistent with James, Cephas (Peter), and John.

Paul and Barnabas continued to spread the Gospel in Gentile nations to the uncircumcised, using tactics that made sense in their context. From the beginning of chapter 2, we get the idea that a lot of time has transpired since Paul began his ministry. The beginning phrase, “Then after fourteen years…” helps me gain some perspective. Hear this, my friends, if Paul was willing to work for 14 years before checking in with “headquarters,” we need to be patient when our efforts take more than a year or two (or ten).

Verse 2 gives us some fascinating insight. Note: “them” in this case are people who are in key leadership positions in the church.

I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. Galatians 2:2

Don’t you want to be sure you’re not running your race in vain?

I recognize the letter, and this chapter, in particular, is more concerned with issues that have arisen in the early church, but what I find amazing is Paul includes verse 10 as the closing statement in his paragraph that summarized his evangelistic missionary approach. Essentially, do whatever it takes to spread the amazing, great news about Jesus, but don’t forget to look after the poor.

Why tag on this request? Did Paul need a reminder? Do we need a reminder?

For those of us that have been around the church for a long time, the simple answer is yes. I added this quote from Tim Keller’s sermon (now on the index page for this series):

If you think you have a relationship with [God] and you don’t have a relationship with the poor and the oppressed, you’re mistaken. If you don’t have a relationship with the poor and the oppressed, you don’t really have a relationship with me.¹

Paul had to appeal to “those who were held in high esteem” in his day. Tim Keller continues to preach this message in our modern-day and age. Yes, we need a reminder.

Whatever role we are blessed to play in church, business, non-profit, etc., we must never forget the requirement to be attentive to the poor.

Remembering the poor is just the beginning. This is not a box to check or a mandate to fulfill. Keller’s words are carefully chosen to capture the key idea: we are to seek relationships with those who would otherwise be forgotten by society. The concept is simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to apply.

I find it fascinating that Paul, in all his greatness, has always been eager to serve the poor. How do we convey this message to others? Perhaps we just need to continue providing safe places for people to get to know the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized. Most important, we must not let people forget.

Lord, help us to seek out relationships with all people, regardless of status or lack of status.

¹See Tim Keller’s sermon, Doing Justice and Mercy, starting at 8:57

October 9, 2019

Spend Yourself on Those In Need

Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah as he cuts through the noise and calls us to true worship:

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail. Isaiah 58:9b-11

The NIV Study Bible’s outline for the book of Isaiah refers to this chapter as False and True Worship¹. Everything we do can be filled with worship. Please don’t mistake worship for 20+ minutes on Sundays when the band is playing!

I suppose finger-pointing and malicious talk are nothing new, but my goodness, the culture we live in, is immersed in the outrageous slandering of people right and left. I wish I had a filter for my Facebook feed that eliminated any post (or advertisement) that hinted at such things. Isaiah’s words to Israel come with a promise that I believe is relevant for us today.

Instead of spending energy on tearing people down, let’s devote ourselves to satisfying the needs of the oppressed and feeding the hungry. We shouldn’t need any incentive to do these things, but he gives us a profound promise that is meant to encourage those who work tirelessly to help others in need.

Your light will rise in the darkness
Your night will become like the noonday
The Lord will guide you always
The Lord will satisfy your needs
The Lord will strengthen you
You will flourish (a well-watered garden)
You will be like a spring whose waters never fail

Spending Ourselves

When we spend ourselves, that is, we pour our energy into helping those who cannot help themselves, we are doing the very thing Jesus came to do. Remember when he rebuked His disciples when they tried to dismiss the children?

People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.“
Mark 10:13-14

Why did Jesus become indignant? And why did he say, the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these? For more thoughts on the passage in Mark, see the post here.

Indignant

Unlike the text we covered a few days ago from 1 John 3:17, where the word “pity” was translated differently, we find the word for indignant is consistently translated from the Greek: aganakteō. It’s interesting to note that the word shows up seven times in the New Testament. Jesus is beyond unhappy with the disciples’ actions, and they knew it. I imagine the scene unfolded some distance away from where Jesus was, so He had to move toward them to intervene. I also suspect that they felt the aganakteō when He arrived!

Such as These

The Kingdom of God belongs to those who cannot help themselves. Children, especially at the time of Mark’s writing, were undoubtedly vulnerable, but definitely could not speak for themselves. The example was vivid. I think the disciples felt the weight of the lesson — that’s why the story is covered in Matthew, Mark, and Luke!

I’m not trying to get sidetracked from today’s passage; instead, I’m trying to support my assertion that Isaiah’s words are relevant to us today. In other words, it’s not just some ancient text that warns our forefathers. We need to pay attention to his words as they affect our lives today.

The Reward

We don’t serve the needs of the oppressed for a financial reward. Take another look at the list of promises above. The theme of this list is all about the joy that wells up from inside; complete contentment. You’ll walk in the light, no stumbling around in darkness! Isaiah’s poetic words offer peace and security with words that are chosen to give you comfort. When I was underlining the words in my Bible, it seemed like the list just kept going. How wonderful. This is our God. He wants us to join in the joy that comes by helping others.

For those who have invested in the lives of the least, the lost, and the lonely, I’m sure you would agree. For those who have received love from someone investing in you, as Father Gregory Boyle might say, the feeling is mutual.

May we be known as people who care for others. Let us be the people that spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed.

October 7, 2019

Be blessed: Invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind

Jesus is speaking to a gathering at a prominent Pharisee’s home when He shares a parable that ends with:

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Luke 14:13-14

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus would make a particular point to invite those who are the outcasts of society to the home of one who is the most prosperous? This amazing passage is captured by Luke and printed in red letters in my Bible — the very words of Jesus. Please pause and let that sink in.

Will Be Blessed

The NIV Application Commentary authors seem to be captivated by this passage as well. I love their thoughts here:

Though those invited cannot repay, God will reward such care in the resurrection to come (1 Cor. 4:5). Again, the promise of reward is expressed in the passive voice (“will be blessed”), which means that God gives the response. He commends those who reach out to the needy and minister to them, often in quiet ministries that no one ever sees. True righteousness does not look for a payback but is offered free of charge, graciously, just as God in Christ has forgiven us free of charge (Eph. 4:32; 5:2). ^{NIVAC Note}

Some Context for the Passage

Let’s zoom out just a bit and see if we can discern why Jesus choose this as the appropriate parable. If it helps, here’s a post I wrote a few years ago surrounding this passage: Jesus and the Pharisees.

The first words of chapter 14 provide the setting, and it’s anything but ordinary. First of all, it’s on the Sabbath, and secondly, it involves a prominent Pharisee. Crazy. Luke makes a special note that Jesus was being carefully watched, so what does Jesus do? He heals someone as they watch — dumbfounded.

One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from abnormal swelling of his body. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him on his way. Luke 14:1-4

As I dwell on the section today, I’m struck by the scene in which the parable is presented. To begin with, this is in the home of a significant Pharisee. In today’s terms, that probably would look like a large house that would require an access code to get past a gate at the end of a long driveway.

How did Jesus get invited to the party?

There’s an incredible lesson to be learned from this alone. Not only did Jesus get invited, but He turned around and healed someone on the Sabbath, and they didn’t kick him out. The man who was healed was one of the main characters in his parable. He was unable to work because of some sickness, but Jesus was able to heal him and send him on his way. Surely the Pharisees and all those gathered had never witnessed a miracle such as this!

Jesus then looked around and addressed the way they invited the guests and how they seated them in places of honor in the form of a parable. These were intelligent men. They understood what was going on. Read the following verse:

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Luke 14:15

Yes! Blessed is the one invited to the feast!

Jesus drives home the point that those invited are not people who look like they should be in attendance. Those who are too busy, proud, successful, or too important won’t be at the banquet.

It seems that Jesus prefers the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. Perhaps there’s something to learn from His example.

Not my words. His.

NIVAC Note. Wilkins, Michael J.. NIVAC Bundle 6: Gospels, Acts (The NIV Application Commentary). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.