DAY TWO: Happy Are the Beggars

How we treat the poor reflects our nearness to God.

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, widows and orphans were the most vulnerable. James’ words evoke the prophet Ezekiel’s words, “Father and mother are treated with contempt, and the resident alien is exploited within you. The fatherless and widow are oppressed in you” (Ezek. 22:7). If a brother or sister in Christ lacks clothes or food and you meet their need, you have a “living faith” according to James (James 2:14–17). Just as Jesus loved and cared for the poor in his earthly ministry, as brothers and sisters in the Messiah, we are to love and care for the poor in the church family as well as those outside church:

Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be arrogant or to set their hope on the uncertainty of wealth, but on God, who richly provides us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and willing to share, storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of what is truly life. (1 Tim. 6:17–19)

How we treat the poor reflects our nearness to God. Just as we were spiritually poor and Jesus met our need with the abundance of his grace, as God’s people we are to draw near the poor and meet their needs with our abundance.

Not only do we meet the need of physical poverty, but of spiritual poverty as well. We feed hungry hearts and hungry stomachs.

Just as Jesus fed the hungry in his ministry and died on the cross for sins, we, too, are called into the world to meet both physical and spiritual needs. This is the good life.

Happy are those who declare spiritual bankruptcy, for only then can the riches of Christ fill the bank vault of their hearts with his love and kingdom.

READ Matthew 5:3.

What new insights do you have about the “poor in spirit”?

PRAY

Lord Jesus, considering your abundant grace toward me, may I love the poor the way you love the poor. In response to your love, may I care for the vulnerable the way you care for the vulnerable. May the least of these see the greatest of these—you—in and through my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.