Since the beginning of time the world has had the rich and the poor and the reasons for people being one or the other are too many to discuss here. Taking the Biblical meaning of the words helps the understanding when we speak of them. Rich has several different meanings in the scriptures such as wealth, much, more, abundance, and refers to goods, property, and money in three verses, Mark 10:23, 24 and Luke18:24. It can be concluded that anyone who has more of anything than another is rich. On the other hand poor, has two basic meanings: one is having nothing at all to the point of being reduced to begging; the other is not having any extras and living sparingly, as in working for a living barely getting by.  

In the Gospels Jesus spoke of the poor, meaning beggars in many instances. He spoke of the rich, such as the rich young ruler who had many possessions of goods, property, and money. The lesson for us is that he was trusting in his riches and that is the reason he wouldn’t sell them. Also those who have obeyed the gospel are spoken of as rich, being made so by the poverty of Jesus. [2 Corinthians 8:9] For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. The verse refers to being rich in salvation and spiritual blessings through the work of Christ.  

The church being the group of believers in Christ is instructed to help those in need. Paul wrote the following: [1 Corinthians 16:1-3] Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. [16:2] Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. [16:3] And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.  The members of the church are to give of their means to help those in need, the poor, those who have less. In this case the people being helped didn’t have the daily necessities that are essential to life.

Sadly, a group of clergy in early 2005 was complaining that the government wasn’t doing enough benevolence and need to have more social programs to help the poor and other needy. Suffice it to say that those who hold that attitude do err in not knowing the scriptures and are neglecting the physical portion of the mission of the church. It isn’t the government’s responsibility to do what God, Jesus, and the apostles have told the church what it is to do. (Refer to the scriptures used in the previous lesson Going to Get Gain for the truth of the foregoing.)

The book of II Corinthians is only 15 verses long, but it contains a wealth of teaching about giving to the poor .Read the following and see who is blessed by the giving; it is the giver of the gift: [2 Cor 9:7] Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.  Galatians says in Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. That is the instruction to the church and one responsibility for each member, according to the scriptures, is to determine whether he or she is rich or poor.     

©12-7-2005 DEC

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