Consider the Poor
December 15, 2008
What does it mean to “Consider The Poor? To consider means to think carefully about, to show respect for or be thoughtful of somebody’s feelings or position; to examine a problem or discuss it in detail, to examine thoroughly, before making a decision. So when was the last time you considered the poor?
We typically don’t. We actually spend more time averting our eyes. It is difficult to really look and do nothing. Or perhaps we justify the ‘nothing’ we choose to do, with the rationalization that there are enough social service organizations and churches around.
Perhaps you are already doing something. Is it enough to pay 21.95 a month for a child in El Salvador? Is that what Jesus had in mind when he said pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit the orphaned and widows in trouble…? (James 1:27) Is it enough to send your unwanted clothing to the Salvation Army? Is that what Jesus had in mind when he shared the story of the Good Samaritan?(Luke 10:33-37) Is it enough to help out a friend or relative who has fallen upon hard times? Is doing good to someone you already know and love what Jesus had in mind when he said love thy neighbor as thyself? (Luke 10:25-29)
I run a homeless shelter in the heart of inner city America and it is filled with individuals who come from an array of life experiences. We help the hurting. It has been our challenge to take our services, and the volunteers and friends who serve the poor with us, to another level: a level that allows for real life change and not just the opportunity to give a hand out sending people back to their world with little permanent change.
For the majority of our organization’s 85-year existence we have had poor people come through our facility to get a helping hand. But when you stand at a feeding line spooning food onto a tray, drop off some clothing, paint a wall in a homeless shelter, or even send in a check have you really considered the poor? Whose name do you know? Whose story can you retell? Whose life has been radically changed? If we are truly considering the poor shouldn’t some of these challenges come into play?
When we asked the 50 plus churches who help us serve breakfast and dinner 365 days a year to sit with the homeless and serve them at their tables we were met with resistance and disapproval. There was a concern about getting too close to the people they claimed they had come to serve. Some churches pulled out! Imagine that. But we also recruited others who believe in the mission and desire effect change in the lives of hurting people.
In order to “Consider The Poor” you have to look at the culture and systemic issues that affect a person’s decision-making process. It is not enough to suggest to someone in generational poverty to just ‘make better choices.’ “Just get a job and life will be better,” doesn’t acknowledge that fact that 28% of poor families are headed by a full-time working adult, but yet they are still knee deep in poverty.
It requires more than a livable wage for many families to rise above the poverty level. 41.5% of poor people live in single parent families with children. 32% live in married couple families. When you look at the culture of poverty, you’ll see a very different world relationally and psychologically than that of middle or upper class. Not just the obvious issues of crime and safety, but things like a lack of education, the blight of neighborhoods, and resource deprivation make true sustainable change very difficult. It’s time for Christians to invest a little more time in considering the poor - the ranks of whom are swelling daily in our current economic crisis.
“Happy are those who consider the poor, the Lord delivers them in their trouble. The Lord protects them and keeps them alive; they are called happy in the land. Psalm 41: 1-3
