The Poor Gospel

Week 3 Scripture: Galatians 2:1-10

Poverty in the ancient world looks quite different from in modern times. The “poor” in antiquity made up the majority of the populace. There was no middle class like modern day America. Moreover, when the poor are spoken of in the Bible these people were at subsistence level. This means they could not provide their own bodies with the nourishment needed for basic survival. In Galatians, according to both the Jerusalem churches and Pauline churches, a key feature of living out the gospel was the provision for the poor by the church. In the book of Acts, material possessions are not viewed as one’s own, but were instead dispersed for the enjoyment of all (Acts 2:45). Jesus consistently taught, lived among, and associated with the poor. Jesus himself was a homeless man (Matt 8:20)! Jesus took service to the poor quite seriously, and encouraged his followers to do the same (Matt 25:44-46). The Apostle Paul likewise encouraged wealth to be shared among the churches (2 Cor 8:13-15). Additionally, many New Testament witnesses condemned selfish material gain (James 5:1-6; 1 Tim 6:17-19).

            What does it mean to “remember the poor”? Immediately, when I read those words, the thought of a homeless man sitting outside of a local Starbucks or Vons comes to mind. Think about that time when we have chosen not to make eye contact with that homeless man or woman because it would obligate us to interact or invest financially in them. To remember the poor necessarily implies that the poor are within proximity to us. In fact, “remembering” is an active action—this means that we initiate the first step in creating contact between one another. Additionally, the poor, as for Paul, become a priority of the Christians life. Therefore, we should invest financially, emotionally, and spiritually to the less fortunate in our communities. Have the poor been a priority in your life or a coincidence to avoid?

Questions To Ponder:

1.     Are you in contact with the poor? If not, why? Is there a barrier?

2.     Do you feel a burden for the poor?

3.     Who are the poor in your life? How can you “remember” them as Paul suggests?