Learning to Love the Poor

As I have returned to living in this country, I have been convicted of sin that has been in my heart. I have had a disdainful attitude towards the poorest of the poor, the ones whom we call “beggars.”

 In the last two weeks I have been trying to understand God’s thoughts on this matter.  I have seen that I have not loved them as I should, as my Savior Jesus has commanded me to. I have given them the money they ask for, but it has been with an unhappy heart. So I have been searching the Scriptures to see what God Himself says about this.

I found in James 2 this passage:

1“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

This passage really convicted me that I have been treating the rich better than I have been treating the poor. I have friends that are “richer” not RICH but not beggars either. I have spent time and effort at being with friends with them. But when it comes to the beggars I have not tried to show to them the true meaning of the Gospel. I find them hard to be friends with, because all them seem to want is money. I have not been loving to them. I give and RUN!

If the King of the whole universe can love the lowly, why can’t I? I am not any better than they. They have a soul that needs salvation just like I did until God give me salvation. I can’t just look at them as though they are not important, because they are very important. I need to stop turning my nose up at them like they are less important just because they have to beg for money. I have also had to beg. I need to remember those days as an orphan, begging for my siblings and me, and I need to use those memories and to love like I would have wanted to be loved.

I want to show to them the Gospel like it was shown to me by my parents. I want to show them that there is a hope and a future if only they turn to the right source. I want a love and a passion for the poor just like Jesus did. I want to make an impact on them in such a way that they can’t do anything BUT turn to the “truth, the light and the way.”

I will continue to search the Scripture for more understand in how to love the poor in a more Christ-like manner. Please pray for me as I ask God to teach me and fill me with His understanding and love.

Jaynie