Command 37 : Bring In the Poor | Day 255

Equip the Poor for Ministry!

As I opened the newspaper, I noticed a feature article about the national leader next to whom I was sitting on the airplane. He was our host as we traveled through his country, meeting leaders and making plans to teach God's way of life to the entire nation of Romania. This leader was highly honored and respected wherever we went.

This great leader told me his life story. He grew up in a large family that lived on a small farm. His parents were barely able to provide for their family's needs of food and clothing. At school, classmates mocked him for his poverty and for his faith in the Lord. He graduated with high honors, but there were no job opportunities available to him because he was not a Communist. He prayed, "Lord, would You bless my life so that I can demonstrate that You honor those who follow You?"

“... Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?” (James 2:5).

A poor person cannot depend on his own resources, because he has none. He must completely depend on someone else to meet his most basic needs. God requires this same kind of dependence on Him in order for a person to enter into His kingdom. Jesus observed, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:25).

The poor and disabled are often considered weak and are despised by men, but Paul affirms their great potential. “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many ... mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen ... the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence" (I Corinthians 1:26-28).

Because of our natural tendency to show partiality to the rich, James condemns any believer who despises the poor: “But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? ... If ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin ..." (James 2:6, 9).

We must recognize the potential that every person has to accomplish great works through faith.

By honoring the poor and disabled with a special meal and motivating them to fulfill the plans God has for them, we will be encouraging them to use God's power that is available through Christ.

The next time we see a poor or disabled person, let's ask ourselves, "How do I view this individual? Do I judge him as less important because of his lack of money or because of his physical disabilities, or do I see him as very important because of his potential for great faith?" Let's see the poor through their Maker's eyes and honor them.