Be Spiritually Enriched With Jesus!

Word-Of-The-Day: ‘<The Lord through Moses told the Israelites,> (10) Give generously to <the poor> and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. (11) There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.’ (Deuteronomy 15:10-11)

In today’s society, people seem to think that equality means equal outcomes, or that no one should be poor.  While Americans are slowly realizing that outcomes, no matter how much taxpayer money is spent and government edicts are made, everyone will not end up equal – in wealth, talent, or stature. 

The reality is while we all have equal opportunities, outcomes will never be equal.  There are many reasons for this, but much of it is personal initiative and drive, as many choosing to be poor in the secular sense as those choosing to be successful in the secular sense.   

Some of it is simply circumstances; we are born without a choice in who our parents will be, or when we will be born.  Would it have been better to be born in early 1900s to an enterprising tycoon, living in that time’s luxury but without the modern amenities that many lower- or middle-class people of today have; air-conditioning, streaming television shows, the internet, and a modern car? 

Our circumstances are also found in our location, as a young man born on the African or South American continent is less likely to have the opportunities provided by those born in the North American continent, or a baby born in South Korea versus one born in North Korea.

Even after we are born, our circumstances can change.  Being born in a middle-class family, I thought I would likely be working in a steel mill in Western Pennsylvania until I graduated high school about the same time the steel mills began closing down.  I went into the Army, and became a communications/information technology specialist, then becoming a government IT contractor and a program manager until I retired.  I went from blue-collar to grey-collar to white-collar to no-collar as my career, and circumstances, changed.  

My spouse and I also moved around before settling in Florida; others stay where they were born while others move often throughout their lives.  I wouldn’t say we went from ‘rags-to-riches’, but rather ‘doing okay-to-doing alright’.  Others did (or are doing) better, some did (or are doing) worse.

There are also those unfortunately due to circumstances that occur in life go from ‘riches-to-rags’.  A health issue, a death of a spouse, an accident, destruction of property (like the recent tornadoes in the Mid-South); each of these can precipitate a fall from self-sufficiency to suddenly being in great need.  The best Biblical example is Job, who was very rich until he was stripped of everything he had (children, assets, and health).  Recent reports indicate many senior citizens, on fixed incomes through Social Security and pensions, can no longer afford increases in rent and utilities and are joining the ranks of the homeless.    

There are also those who are ‘rich’ in the sense of great wealth, but ‘poor’ in the sense of emotional well-being.  We hear quite regularly of actors and musicians who commit suicide or overdose on drugs, and the thought is often that they had the money to do anything at anytime and yet choose to end their life.  It is revealed afterwards these famous people who took their own lives felt great despair and loneliness. 

Worse than financial or emotional poverty is Spiritual poverty.  We see the Word of Jesus in Matthew 16:26 and Mark 8:36. “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”  One can be physically wealthy and emotionally stable, yet be poor in the Spirit of the Lord. Yet, all should understand only two outcomes (that are not equal) are guaranteed; for those who accept the gift of Christ’s Salvation – an Eternal life with Jesus, while an Eternity of punishment and sorrow awaits those who choose to ignore Jesus’ calling for them to come to Him.

As a follower of Christ, we have the charge to combat these three forms of poverty.  This cannot solely be done in one month, but must be continuous.  We look at the example of Jesus who did all three; when people were in physical need He fed them, when people were emotionally distraught He conversed with them, and when people were Spiritually bankrupt, he gave Himself up to be our Savior. 

Donating money to charity is a big part of giving, but we can also give through taking the time to talk to others who need to both have someone to listen to them and encourage them.  We also give Spiritually when we share the Gospel with others and pray with them.  If you don’t have money, you do have time and talent that can be used instead.  Your sharing of what God has blessed you with, either time, treasure, or talents, will bless others and most importantly may provide them with an eternal gift, the Gift of Salvation.