We Will Always Have The Poor

Jesus said, “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.” (Mark 14:7)

We will always have the poor. No social program, income redistribution scheme, or communal government will eradicate poverty. It was once said that if you took all of the money and wealth of the world and redistributed it evenly amongst all the people of the world, that within a year the formerly rich would be rich again, the middle class would be the middle class again, and of course, the poor would be poor.

There are many factors which play into one’s lot in life. The thought of many today is that wealth and income are due to society. The belief is that due to things such as skin color and gender, society will treat you either poorly or well which results in your financial and social status. The belief is that everything affecting your life is external and not your fault. You didn’t determine your race or gender or sexual proclivities and you didn’t determine how the world would react to these things, so your life is completely out of your hands.

The solution? "I'm with the government and I'm here to help!"

Conversely, if you have reached a certain level of success and social status then you must have done so through nefarious means. So in a nutshell, you can’t control yourself or your life unless you are doing something illegal or immoral. It’s very sad, but a lot of people believe this.

Jesus makes it clear. “For ye have the poor with you always”. Stress the word, “always”.

So, what does Jesus say to do about the poor? Does Jesus tell us to start a government program? Get the Romans to take from the rich and give to the poor? Raise taxes? Does Jesus picket and riot? Does he form a band of thugs, beat up people who don’t agree with him? Does Jesus tear society down? Does he start a “Poor Lives Matter” movement?

No, none of that. What Jesus did say to do was whenever you can, to “do them good”. Jesus puts the responsibility of taking care of the poor squarely on the individuals shoulders. Is it a command? No. It is a choice. Our choice. It is also part and parcel of “Love thy neighbor”. In fact, it is the definition of it. Love thy neighbor isn’t a sentiment or a feeling. It is a responsibility. And yes, we ARE our brother’s keeper.

Giving and helping our neighbor, our fellow man, leads to another Biblical principle; The more you give, the more you get.

“The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” (Proverbs 11:25)

To those who have, the more you will receive.

“For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” (Matthew 13:12)

Did you catch that last part? Those who don’t have, it shall be taken from. The poor shall always be with us.

God is nothing but a forward motion. You give to those who need, God will make sure that you are supplied and then some. Just remember, to whom God gives to, much will be expected of him.

“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48B)

Jesus Christ stated the problem, “For ye have the poor with you always”.

The solution is up to each of us on a voluntary basis, “whensoever ye will ye may do them good”.

The poor will always be with us and we will always have the opportunity to help them. But Jesus Christ on the other hand, “me ye have not always.”

Just like helping the poor, Jesus Christ comes on a voluntary basis too. You don’t have to help the poor and you don’t have to accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. But in accepting the one, the giving to the other will come automatically and all the benefits of giving will come too.

Rejecting both, not helping the poor and not accepting Christ as your Savior has a bad consequence all of its own, in this life and the next.

Bill Hitchcock