The Gospel to the Poor
Our Lord had incredible affinity and identification with the poor, being born into a family that at his circumcision offered pigeons, (Luke 2:24) the offering prescribed for the poorest of families (Lev 12:8).
Jesus full of grace and truth deliberately chose Isaiah 61 as the key text for
His first sermon (Luke 4:16 - 19). This text begins with these wonderful words:
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
And yet I find myself asking the question “Is there really Good News for the poor?” When the gospel comes to one’s life negative cycles are broken, sin is dealt with, forgiveness extended and new destinies are sealed in the gracious purposes of God. What is the good news then that will break cycles that have kept people and people groups enslaved in poverty for generations? Does God not have a plan for them? The bulk of outreach or ministry to the poor has historically focused on programs that bring immediate comfort yet leave little lasting impression. The Scriptures however encourage us to a higher calling. To bring lasting change, to exercise auditable transformation as we reach out with hands of mercy to help those who have little means of helping themselves.
Is there really a gospel; is there really “Good News” that will break the cyclic curse of generational poverty?
The other key Text that we must look at is the Levitical law about the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25). The Jubilee came after 7 cycles of 7years or every 50th year. The key component of this law which God declared as holy (Lev 25:12) was that all property was to revert to it’s original owner (Lev 25:13), and all that had been sold into slavery were to receive their freedom (Lev 25:40 - 41). The intent of our Father seems clear in the writing of this holy law, He was making a divine way to ensure that there was a way out of generational poverty. No man or woman or their offspring could be condemned to poverty for life. Property was to be returned to its original owner, debts were cancelled and slaves freed. Some have said that were these laws to be enforced in our day it would bring about the collapse of the world’s economy. And so it might! But I do not think that releases us from seeking ways not just to comfort but also to break the kind of poverty that has kept people in bondage for generations. This law of Jubilee is the ultimate grace antidote to the greed we see driving so much of our free market society. It is the law working out what was demonstrated in the crossing, no one gathered too little, no one gathered too much (Ex 16:6 - 18).
Surly the clarity of the call of God and our understanding of what is happening in our day demands a wise response? Ephesians is clear that God’s intent is that now through the church the manifold wisdom of God become known (Eph 3:10). We have to put ourselves in the place of responsibility asking God for divine wisdom and insight into what needs to be done. We must begin to build partnerships with business. The church has to rise up in this time, speak for those who do not have a voice, go to those who cannot come to us and to share the many great blessings that God has given us. Frances Schaeffer in his book “How should we then live?” speaks about the issue of the “non-compassionate use of wealth”. He lists this as one of the areas that the post reformation church failed to deal with. This really is an issue that the church needs to be heard on. Individual generosity cannot excuse corporate silence. The Church must speak out and act out. We must be the good news as well as tell the good news. We cannot simply stand by while the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The church must look to develop strategic partnerships with those in business. Entrepreneurs need to be stirred, encouraged and released to pursue compassionate capitalism, fueling and funding projects that will bring generational change to those who need it most. Generational change could be defined as that which would bring change to this generation and the next. These projects will need to go beyond simply meeting immediate need and will have to begin to look towards education, skills training and entrepreneurial opportunities created. We don’t simply need big givers we need big thinkers!!! We need creative solutions as well as prophetic direction and insight. Indiscriminate giving will do us great harm. We must look for authentic partnerships. We must be strategic and focused. So that we are not simply blessing on a case by case scenario but we are partnering with those that are already doing it effectively, helping them to reach more, faster.
The last text we want to look at is the parable of the Good Samaritan
(Luke 10:25 - 37). In this divine drama the only player that is not identified is the victim, he is simply “a man”. This becomes interesting in the light of the question asked about who was a neighbor to the victim. The deliberate omission of identity can lead us to only one conclusion that “the man” was indeed “everyman” or simply put mankind. This is a daunting thought and an overwhelming concept but we must resist the temptation to take on what is easy, to take on what is doable, to take on a pet project that we can control. We must give ourselves over to the bigness of our God, heed his call to “the poor” and bring all the Good News that will set them free from cycles that have enslaved them for decades.
Let’s finish where we started
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
This text starts with the preaching of the good news to the poor but moves us quickly towards restoration of places “long devastated” renewing “ruined cities” and ending devastation that has lasted for “generations”.
Let the Church arise to the high and glorious place God has intended for her. Let the church arise to “be” the good news to those who need good news the most.
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