The Least of These (Part 1)

Historically the poor have been one of the most overlooked and compromise people groups in every society, and the world of the present is no exception. As the face of the worldwide church continues to configure itself more and more like the church of the south the poor are becoming a reality we can no longer ignore. Tragically, it seems that in recent years the church has offloaded its responsibility to care for the less privileged to government agencies or Para-church organizations. I submit that God has made it the responsibility of His people to care and provide for the “poor” of society, which I will attempt to show with the support of Scripture.

The first thing to be understood when constructing a theology of the poor is the nature of “poorness” or poverty. Poverty is an opportunity to show God’s love and fulfill our humanity, not a sociological problem with an answer or a disease to be eliminated.[1] In fact, Deuteronomy 15:11 tells us that we will always have the poor to deal with, and sets it [poverty] up as an opportunity to minister to our brothers and sisters in need.[2]

Poverty in the O.T.

When God gave the law to Moses he was not simply setting up a moral code of ethics for which the nation of Israel was to abide by, He was also constructing for them a culture and a way to do life. This is significant because this was the prescribed community of God. If properly instituted and obeyed this would be the prime model of life in community. This was no creation of man, but a series of constructs provided by God. The Pentateuch reports an extensive social policy for the provision of the impoverished. If a man was forced to sell his home and possessions, another was to support him as though he were a guest.[3] Owners of farms, orchards, and vineyards were to leave some of the harvest behind so that the poor and needy would not go entirely without food.[4] Employers were even commanded to pay their workers before the sun set on the same day of their work.[5]

As we continue to follow poverty through the O.T., it is next enumerated upon in the wisdom literature. The nature of poverty and its affects are discussed at some length, but we are more interested in the way that Solomon seeks to deal with those who are poor. There seems to be two common themes here; the first being that the man who blesses the poor will himself be blessed while those who take advantage or subjugate them will be punished.[6] The second theme is the idea of giving the poor the justice that they deserve and yet rarely receive because they lack the means to provide it for themselves.[7]

Finally, we approach the prophetic books, and while at first it be surprising that they include so much discussion about the poor, it is understandable. We must remember the things that the nation of Israel was experiencing at the time. They were constantly under attack from enemy nations and were eventually displaced from their homeland. Many of them were forced to begin new lives in a foreign land with virtually nothing of their own. It was in this setting that the prophets stressed to the people of Israel God’s retribution to those who oppressed them, encouraging them by reminding them of God’s covenant with them.[8]

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[1] This is important because Matthew 22 tells us that the two greatest things a human can do is love God and love others, which often becomes the same thing in practice – that is, loving others is loving God. This mandate for love is really just the human doing what he was meant to do. Man was created in the likeness of God, who is the very definition of love. So if man is to fulfill and live out the image of God, then it is necessary that he love others. In fact, one could go so far as to say that he who ceases to love his fellow human beings has forgotten what it means to be human; likewise if we treat the poor as less than human we not only rob them of the dignity that they have as image bearers of God, but we also strip ourselves of our own humanity (Proverbs 14:31; 17:5).

[2] Deut. 15:11 - For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.' (ESV)

[3] Leviticus 25:25, 35; Deuteronomy 15:7

[4] Leviticus 23:22

[5] Deuteronomy 24:15

[6] Proverbs 14:21; 19:17; 22:9; 28:27

[7] Proverbs 29:7; 29:14; 31:9

[8] Ezekiel 16:49; Amos 4:1-3; 8:4-7; Zechariah 7:10-14