I’ve always found it significant that Jesus mentions the poor in his very first sermon: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor” (Luke 4:18 NLT).
We must care about the poor because Jesus did. We don’t have a choice. So how can we help the people in our churches minister to the poor? Here are a few ideas I have; perhaps you have more:
1. Treat the poor with dignity.
We’re not smarter, we’re not more talented, and we’re not more valuable than people who are poor. The Bible says, “Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all” (Proverbs 22:2 NIV). I like to say that our self-worth isn’t based on our net worth.
2. Offer the poor opportunities.
The Bible says, “When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it” (Galatians 6:10 NCV). As I’ve talked to people in various ministries, they all say that the best way to help the poor isn’t to give them a bunch of money. It’s to give them opportunities.
Maybe people need training. Maybe they need help finding a job. Maybe they need a network of folks who can connect them with mentors and resources. We can teach our members to watch for ways they can give opportunities to the poor.
3. Defend the poor.
The Bible says it’s our responsibility to care about injustice. We’re called to speak up when we see the poor (or anyone else) mistreated. The poor are vulnerable to abuse. They’re often the ones who get taken advantage of by unfair practices of businesses and landlords. And it’s the poor around the world who are most likely to get sold into slavery.
We can look for opportunities to defend them. In fact, at Saddleback, we’re mobilizing members with legal backgrounds to help us do this.
4. Share what we have.
This is how we can be the church. The Bible says, “Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don’t turn away your relatives” (Isaiah 58:7 CEV). We want people to start meeting needs when they find them, not just expect someone at the church to handle them.
A church dispersed can serve many more people than a church gathered. If your church has 100 members for every staff member, your church dispersed has 100 times as many opportunities to help people who are poor than if it’s just left to the staff.
And as we teach people to help the poor, we’re helping them to worship God: “If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship” (Proverbs 14:31 GNT).
Lovely word from such an anointed man of God.You said it all.
God bless you man of God
Good morning. I am addicted to most of your series of online studies.
How can I get your PEACE PLAN for my further studies.
Thanks.
Charles Egwu
Nigeria
Hello Charles,
You can find Pastor Rick’s “40 Days of PEACE” sermon series at this link: https://store.pastors.com/40-days-of-peace.html
There are also other additional materials on The PEACE Plan at pastors.com
Thank you for helping understand the truth of the word of God concerning the poor
I thank you Rick Warren for your Scripture readings, because I am a Soldier of The Salvation Army in Newmarket,Ontario,Canada. I use your Scriptures for my Bible Studies to the residence of a nursing home in Bradford,Ontario. So Thank you for all the Great work you do. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
Charles
Iam much blessed, pastor Rick, the Lord will ADD to your wisdom In Jesus name.
I would like to thank Pr Rick for his commitment to build the body of Christ I’ve been his disciple since I knew him 11 years ago.Today I’m committed to following his steps.I’m a Pastor leading the Church of Christ through PDM.Bless you Pastor as you keep encourangig us through God’s word.Pr Jimmy
Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo
These are all good. I would add one more: Befriend poor people. Shane Claiborne once took a survey in which he asked, “Do you think Jesus befriended poor people?” Almost everyone said yes. Later in the survey he asked, “Do you have friends who are poor?” Only 2% said yes. He observed that we say we are to follow Jesus’ example, but in this area, most affluent Americans do not.
I pastor a church that serves a low-income neighborhood and most of our members are poor. Most of our leaders are poor. Our experience has been that most suburban churches that want to partner with us want to (1) give us money and (2) do things for us. When we suggest that we would like to partner as equals, that we would like our suburban partners to recognize that our urban leaders have more expertise on how to minister in a poor urban neigbhorhood than they do, and that they can come alongside and support our urban leaders rather than doing things for them, our “partners” tend to disappear.
Cross-cultural friendships are the best way to explode the stereotypes that poor people are less intelligent, lazy, and helpless. There is much that affluent Christian leaders and poor Christian leaders can accomplish working together that we could not accomplish separately, but only if we become friends and partner as equals.
As Íive here In Angola as principal of a Christian school. I know many poor around me.
And I treat them with complete dignity and teach English and other things about how to cook and how to feed properly the Young.
I have been living here for 4 years and I am fond of children.
As my husband needs some medical treatment, we are returning to Brasil In order to do this for some months.
I hope to return some day.
And I also read the 40 days book In Portuguese with my 8 disciples. All girls and they love the book.
And I share some devotional which I receive from pastor Rick every day with the teachers and whoever I have some oportunity to share. I write and give it to the person.
I thank pastor Rick for sending me this rich material which have helped me and others.
Praise the lord.brethren how can i get the 40 days book in portuguese.i live in Mozambique
I would add an additional line with regard to the Church purpose statement. (That is made aware to and understood by all church members)