GOD EXALTS THE POOR

 Do we blame the poor for being poor? Maybe. We use zoning laws to keep them out of our neighborhoods and our schools. Their problems affect our property values. 

But God views the poor in an entirely different light. James, the brother of Jesus, writes: Let the brother of low  degree rejoice, in that he is exalted. Let the rich remember he is made low, a servant  to his riches, which has to be constantly minded and nourished, for riches fade faster than a beautiful flower in the field.

I have heard it said that if only the poor had faith, they could just speak riches into existence. This is false. For God's Word says He has made the poor rich in faith.

According to James, encouraging the poor with positive pronouncements is not enough if we walk away leaving them naked and cold.

I have an ambition. Is it from God? We will see. Is it dangerous? Maybe. Let me explain. My ambition is to build internet bridges of charity to worthy gospel ministries across the globe. I suspect this will be a laborious, tedious, and somewhat risky work.

The first step will be the search for those who are doing good works that will be seen by men who will then glorify our Heavenly Father.

The 2nd step is simple but risky. Say a kind word to a stray puppy and it may follow you home. But remember this is a 2 way transaction. The impoverished but hard working ministry you find has a gift for you...prayers of faith that can turn around your situation. You may have wealth, but money can't buy a happy marriage, good health, blessed children. But prayers of faith can make a huge difference in your life.

As I reconsider the story of Job through this new lens, I see an unstoppable process of overwhelming grace. First, our adversary is stirred to a jealous rage when God the Father brags on His good and upright servant Job. Before we indulge in a pity party for poor Job and also ourselves, let's remember that the story is much bigger than we can see with earthly eyes. There is spiritual warfare going on. Both Satan and God are seeking to prove points about God's Creation.

Satan is convinced that he is God's greatest creation. Satan immediately spied our weakness from the beginning, and our flaws are beyond redemption. His philosophy is to rule through strength. He utterly despises our weakness, highlighted in men's frequent mistakes and failures. On top of that, God seems to build folly on folly, with the creation of the even weaker sex, woman, then to top it off, the fragile growth of the baby, a creation of the Father that our Adversary deeply despises. In our recent history, there has been a holocaust of the unborn.

Which now brings us back to the poor. The God head has chosen the poor, along with His other creations, to illustrate His mission statement: God's Strength perfected in our weakness. Amen. Amen.