Articles
Poor in the World—Rich in Faith
When Jesus first preached at the synagogue in Nazareth, he read this passage:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4:18)
While the “good news” of the gospel is for all men, Jesus’ teaching in Luke exhibits an inordinate interest in the poor. In his sermon on the plain, Jesus’ first words were “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). When John the Baptist asked about whether Jesus was truly the expected Messiah, one of the key pieces of evidence that Jesus cites next to his miracles is the fact that “the poor have good news preached to them” (Luke 7:22). When Jesus offered advice on how to run a dinner party, he said, “When you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind” (Luke 14:13). In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, it is the poor man Lazarus who reaches Abraham’s bosom, while the rich man is sent to torment upon death (Luke 16:19-31). When a rich man asked what he could do to have eternal life, Jesus told him to “sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Luke 18:22). And when a poor widow stood in the temple amidst many wealthy people offering their contribution, Jesus spoke of her two small copper coins saying, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them” (Luke 21:3).
Why this inordinate interest in the poor? Are they really that special? We are quick to respond with our caveat that “It’s not really a sin to be rich per se.” The rich young ruler in Luke 18 is a bizarre exceptional case that we are secretly grateful does not apply to us. Jesus’ warning that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:25) is thought to be an abstract remark intended for someone not us. Never mind Mary’s remarks that “the rich he has sent away empty” (Luke 1:53). Never mind Jesus’ scathing rebuke, “Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation” (Luke 6:24). Never mind the warning imbedded in the parable of the rich fool that one who “lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God” is inevitably doomed (Luke 12:21).
But the Bible seems to indicate that those who are most in need in this life are also those who are most primed to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he promised to those who love him?” (James 2:5) A person who is poor is all too aware of their poverty. They are all too aware of their hunger, their thirst, their lack of adequate clothing and shelter. When people are hungry, thirsty, naked, and exposed, it is only natural for them to feed on the bread of life, to drink from the fountain of living water, to clothe themselves in the works of Christ, and to dwell in the house not made with hands. The gospel answers poverty in a way that no amount of charitable donation ever could. This does not excuse us from being charitable (far from it!) And it doesn’t mean that rich people are incapable of being saved (Zaccheus is proof otherwise!) But it does explain why the poor are far easier to convince of the gospel than the rich. It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. And it is not the rich who are salivating for the riches of heaven, but the poor.
God has a way of putting everyone at some kind of disadvantage, so that all might be equal before him. For the poor, God has obviously given them the disadvantage of their poverty. Their suffering is evident, and there is seldom much they can do about it (contrary to some of the preaching I have heard!) But for the rich, God has given a disadvantage as well. The presence of riches threaten to choke the word’s influence in their lives (cf. Luke 8:14). The nature of prosperity provokes mankind to forget the source of wealth (Deut 8:17). If the rich are not careful, they might be tricked into thinking that their wealth is actually worth something! What the world calls “rich” and “poor” is not the same as what God thinks is “rich” and “poor” (Rev 2:9; 3:17-18). That is why Paul warned Timothy: “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.” (1 Tim 6:17-18)
May God help us to see riches and poverty for what they are!
