Australian College of Ministries

Subject:            TCB105          Survey of Biblical Doctrine

Lecturer:            John Rees     Date of Subject:            30^th Nov. – 3^rd Dec. 1999

Ministry Centre of Subject:                       Carlingford

Student’s Name: Grant Mitchell

 

Student’s ID:              C9901028

 

Item Of Work: Field Assignment:

Write a 1000 word reflection on the significance of the poor in the development of biblical doctrine.

 

Words:            1272    1565

 

            Worth: 40% of subject mark

 

Date Submitted:

 

Due Date:            Wednesday 15^th March 2000 (Extended to 16-3-2000 by permission)

 

 

Signed:_____________________________  Date:______________

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 2

Introduction................ 3

Justice for the Poor.. 3

Provision for the Poor........... 3

Accounting and Punishment................... 4

Jesus and the Poor.. 6

Conclusion...................... 7

Bibliography.............. 10

Introduction

The poor are a part of our society, and our society has an intuition that they need help. This was reflected in Bob Hawke's statement that, by 1990, no child in Australia shall be homeless. However, it appears that people are unable, or unwilling, to take an active part in supporting the poor. Scapegoat explanations are made to excuse those who are not poor from helping those who are.^[1] These explanations are incomplete and inadequate. God's word shines some light on who is responsible for justice towards and provision for the poor, and ultimately Jesus' part in the life of the poor, and what responses and actions the people of God need to make.

Justice for the Poor

God gives equal justice to the poor and the rich alike.^[2] It is his character to defend, protect, save, and rescue, and these actions are particularly aimed at the poor.^[3]

 

In the context of biblical times, the widow and the fatherless are poor, for they cannot provide for themselves. God is described as the defender of the fatherless, the oppressed, and the widow,^[4] with evildoers as the enemies and frustraters of the poor.^[5] Even more so, God is the father to the fatherless. God steps in to the gap in the life of these poor people to stand up for them in the face of opposition. He is their refuge.^[6]

 

God not only stands up for the poor, but is described as the deliverer and rescuer of the poor and needy from oppression and violence.^[7] God will be a part of keeping the poor from oppression, but also a part of removing them from their oppression.^[8]

 

The importance of these characteristics of God to us is that God calls his people to imitate his justice and saving action toward the poor:

Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.

-- Exodus 23:6

Administer true justice: show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor.

-- Zechariah 7:9-10

God's people are called to have the same heart of giving equal justice regardless of a person's economic state,^[9] to stand in the gap for families that cannot support themselves, and to become a part of removing the poor from their oppression.

Provision for the Poor

God takes an active part in the life and struggle of the poor. God listens, answers, and helps the poor. God has compassion, shows generosity, and encourages the poor. God satisfies, supports and provides for the poor.

 

God hears the cries and desires of the poor,^[10] and in response he answers the needs of the poor.^[11] God is not unaware of the needs of the poor, and is, in contrast, active in meeting those needs. He satisfies the poor with food, clothing, and provisions.^[12] God also comforts and shows compassion to the poor,^[13] thus providing for their emotional needs.

 

Again, as the people of God we are called to imitate God in these attitudes of providing for the poor:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: … to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him…

--- Isaiah 58:6-7

These actions are a reflection of the heart of a righteous man:

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…

--- James 1:27

Those who provide for the poor are described as being commended, of noble character, righteous, good, and God-fearing.^[14]

 

Particularly there is a challenge to give up greed and pride for the sake of imitating this characteristic of God. Providing for the poor is seen in Jesus' ministry; in particular Jesus challenges the attitudes of the Pharisees in using their giving to the poor as a means of gaining reward and recognition from other people.^[15] Jesus focuses on the original intent of the action - to imitate God and seek reward from him. Jesus also challenges the rich young ruler to give his belongings to the poor, and so Jesus aims to challenge him to give up his greed and instead provide for the poor.^[16] Zacchaeus is contrasted to this young man as one who demonstrates that his greed is gone and his righteous life begun when he gave half of his possessions to the poor.^[17]

 

This shapes the idea of becoming poor in the spirit^[18] - the attitude of humility when it comes to life, and in particular money and possessions.^[19] The call is not necessarily to a life of poverty in physical possessions, but one of poverty and dependence in spirit. This attitude makes a natural progression to understanding how dependant the poor are, and how they need the provision and defense of God through his people.

Accounting and Punishment

God states that he will make an accounting for, and appropriately punish those who do not imitate him in providing for the justice and needs of the poor.

 

Job describes a future confrontation with God were he will make account for giving justice to the needy, giving to the needs of the poor, and in sharing his food with the fatherless.^[20]

 

Through the prophet Jeremiah God warns the nation of Judah, amongst other rebellious acts, that they do not defend the rights of the poor. In response God states that they deserve his punishment.^[21] Similar warnings are given through Amos and Malachi.^[22] There is also an uncovering of discrimination^[23] and lack of love^[24] in attitudes toward the poor and needy, with warnings following about judgment upon the unmerciful, and self-condemnation from our God-filled hearts.

 

There will be an accounting of all people about their attitudes toward the poor, which Jesus even describes as an accounting for how we have treated him, and thus resulting in either eternal punishment or eternal life. Our attitudes towards the poor have some eternal consequence.^[25]

Jesus and the Poor

Jesus demonstrates God's support and defense to the poor, but he also shows that the worship of God has a higher priority over the poor, which leads to the challenge of balancing both.

 

Jesus quotes Isaiah 61 in reference to his mission:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

-- Luke 4:18a

Jesus was stating that he was a part of the answer to the question from the poor, "God, how will you defend me? How will you provide for me?" Jesus' ministry of proclaiming God's kingdom included support to the physical needs of the poor,^[26] restoring their means to be supported,^[27] and the preaching of good news to the poor.^[28] God's news in Jesus was that the poor were a part of the kingdom of God, not just the rich,^[29] and that they mattered to God because Jesus provided for their needs of food and family support.

 

However, one of Jesus' most unusual statements was in regards to the woman who anointed Jesus with perfume before the time of his arrest and death:

The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.

-- Matthew 26:11

Jesus places a priority of attention on him over the poor, on worshipping him, worshipping God, over providing for the poor. He does not deny the need to provide support and defend the poor, but highlights that he is ultimately more important than the poor.

 

Reflecting on this in the life of the church shows the tension of being the people of God who worship God, who declare him to others in mission evangelism, yet who also know that God calls us to involvement in mission to felt needs of the community, particularly the poor. This is a personal challenge to me, to find the balance in my ministry, and in the ministry of my local church: the worship of Jesus and mission to share the good news of Jesus need to be balanced with mission to the needy of my community.^[30]

Conclusion

The poor play a significant part in God's word, and how God provides for and defends them. There is a vital part in the life of the church to play in providing and defending the poor, not only in word by doctrine, but also in action through mission to spiritual and physical needs. Ultimately the poor are not more significant than God, and his call to worship him, but the local church needs to find the balance between worship, mission evangelism, and mission to the physical needs of the poor.

Bibliography

Stott, John. Issues Facing Christians Today. Hants, UK: Marshalls, 1984.

 

All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version. Copyright Ó 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.