We find the story of the Good Samaritan in the Gospel of Luke, chapter ten. A student of the law asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” He wanted to justify his actions or inactions when it came to the command to love his neighbor. He tried to place the responsibility on someone else’s shoulders. And, I think many of us want to the same in today’s world. Who is responsible for caring for the sick and suffering in our society? Who is my neighbor?
Proverbs 31:9 “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Recently, on my charity’s Facebook page, I shared some photos of what poverty looks like in Nepal, the location of one of our children’s home. The picture got lots of views and comments. Several of the comments mentioned governments or the UN should step in to help in these areas. I understand the thoughts behind the comments, but it made me stop and think about who has the responsibility to help the poor.
James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Throughout the Bible, we find many passages and verses that talk about helping the poor, the widow or the orphans. One example I found in Psalm 82:3, “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” This verse makes it clear that we should help the poor and the oppressed. But, who are the “WE” that this verse and others like it are addressing to help? Is it only governments or social programs that should help the needy?
We are responsible for caring for those in need around us and around the world. Click To Tweet
Mother Teresa – “Intense love does not measure. It just gives.”
Many of us, like the student of the law in the parable of the Good Samaritan, want to pass off the responsibility of caring for our neighbors, the poor and the oppressed to someone else. The Bible contains instructions to individuals so we can live the kind of life God expects of us. We are responsible for caring for those in need around us and around the world. As Mother Teresa said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then just feed one.” We are all called to do something to help the poor, it is our responsibility so why not start today?
Mother Teresa said - If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one. Click To Tweet
Blessings,
Yvonne – #blogger, #speaker, and #author
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
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Great reminder for us today–and opportunity is all around us.
Amen
It’s amazing how you can be hit anew by something you’ve read so many times before. When I saw this in your post–Proverbs 31:9 “Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”–it really impacted me. Thank you for sharing your heart, Yvonne.
You are welcome and thanks for commenting.
Heartbreaking picture! Beautiful call to serve those in desperate need! Thank you for the challenge, Yvonne.
Your post moved me to pray. I pray that I would never walk passed the poor and needy without offering some kind of help.
I love the scriptures you chose and the quotes by Mother Theresa. My favorite is “Intense love does not measure. It just gives.”
Thanks Marcie, I think sometimes we forget we are part of God’s solutions to poverty. God bless
Oh, yes, Yvonne! This will preach! I’ve always loved James 1:27 because it’s the heart of the Christian faith. There’s plenty of impure and faulty religions out there. It IS our responsibility to be Jesus with skin and to help the least of these (Matthew 25).
Thanks Karen. James 1:27 is the verse that helped me figure out the charity work God was calling me too, orphans. God bless
Such a good reminder that we need to be the hands & feet of Jesus. Government aide is limited, so how can we fill in the gaps? Thank you for all you do!
Thanks Annie, everyone can make a difference by reaching out to neighbors who are lonely or sick or struggling and then through organization that help other. God bless
When it comes to looking after the poor, the widows and the less fortunate, I frequently hear the comment “it’s the governments responsibility”. When did personal responsibility disappear? Is our socialistic mindset tainting our charitable giving?
Amen Miranda. It is easier to look away and let it be someone else’s problem
It’s so easy to think this is someone else’s responsibility! Your quote from Mother Teresa makes it sinple: Feed the one person if you can’t feed many. It’s so important that we keep tender hearts, listen to the Lord, and obey. The parable of the sheep and goats provides us evidence of those who truly belong to Jesus. It includes this very thing, and it’s downright terrifying when we consider how quickly we try to dodge this.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’” Matthew 25:31-36
Thanks Melinda. The parable of the sheep and the goats is another good reminder for us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts