Session Two: Day Three- A Wildflower In The Meadow

"The brother of humble circumstances should boast in his exaltation."

James 1:9

Perhaps it is because I feel like this is an area God has really pressed upon my heart lately, but talking today about remembering the poor brings great joy to me heart!  One of the reasons that we recently chose to attend a different church was because we want our family to be immersed in a culture that purposefully seeks out ways to take care of the poorest amongst us, both locally and over seas.

Beth begins today's lesson by talking about how much we in the West have and I'm sure we have all heard it said many times that even the poorest American is wealthier than 90% of the world.  So what does that mean for us?  It means we have a great opportunity to humble ourselves to serve others who have nothing.  And truly, that excites me!

Jill:  I couldnt help but think of my beautiful sponsored girl Jacinta while reading this.  I received a picture of her and she is beautiful I have her hanging on my desk so I can see her bright beautiful smile every day.  I need to find a way to show you her picture.  If you havent already you really should read the story about Musana and how these 3 girls from Bolder started this home for the most desolate people is the most awful conditions.  The area is mostly muslim and they started a Christian home for people.  It is the most amazing story I have ever read.

Lisa: I liked this quote on page 54: "If scarcity of goods inherently improves one's spirituality, no biblical text would ever command help for the poor!  God would never tell us to relieve people of their blessed state."  I think it's confusing to us sometimes when we read so much about the poor in Scriptures, but someone needs to help them.  God wants our obedience and our gifts.  "He who is kind to the poor LENDS to the Lord..." Proverbs 19:7
 

As she has us go through the scriptures to see what God thinks of the poor and how believers should care for them, I just kept thinking to myself how blessed financially my family has been and that it is a privilege to be able do our part to care for those who cannot care for themselves.  Our culture says to buy the bigger house, the new car, the best clothes or the latest gadget.  And those things are fine to have (says the girl who wants a farm and just bought a new car!) but if ever we are only thinking on the next purchase and not how our financial blessings can impact others, then the disconnect from God shows up.

I loved when Beth said, "We who are not presently assigned to serve those of humbler means in our workplaces must constantly tune our ears to the voices of those who are."  This is important to remember because it is so easily to become isolated in our nests of prosperity and forget there is a hurting world out there.  Jill, I loved all of the ways you discovered to connect with those who are in need during the holiday season.  Seeing your willingness to give where you could helped our family to clarify even more that we needed to be giving back more than we are.

In reading Hebrews 10:32-34, were you able to pinpoint the part that suggests why the outbreak of poverty among early converts to Christ?

Interesting that I have this underlined in my bible already for some unknown reason, but had not noticed that the early Christians had their property confiscated.  I took a few moments to stop and think about what having my home and cars and property stripped away would look like for me.  My hope is that I would rely ever more on God and trust (especially given the lesson yesterday) that he would still provide for all of my needs.


Jill:  I never knew that the early believers (which appeared to be mostly Jews) had all their possessions taken away from them, were publicly humiliated, beaten and jailed. Wow.   No wonder Paul and the others were so concerned about raising money for the poor and when James says in Acts when he was telling the others the only laws to follow and he finished up with "Remember the poor".  It all makes sense now. 

Lisa: Pretty powerful!  "...when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.  Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.  You sympathized with those in prison, and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions."

Isolating some of these words really helped me see how strong and amazing these early believers were, and how weak and probably pathetic I am...

• stood your ground
• great contest
• suffering
• publicly exposed
• insult
• persecution
• stood side by side
• sympathized
• those is prison
• joyfully accepted
• confiscation of property
• better and lasting possessions

I can only hope that if/when these events happen to me that I will remember these verses and respond with joy, knowing that this is only stuff and that there is so much more for me in Christ. 

Why do you think God placed such emphasis on the poor throughout His Word?

I think it is because often when a person has nothing, placing hope in God is the only option.  You can't buy security because there is no money.  Perhaps one reason God tells us over and over to help the poor is because He knows that serving others prevents us from being so self focused.  A person cannot truly serve someone else and maintain a selfish attitude.

Jill:  I agree with you Emily and have another thought as well.  I was thinking that any non believers witnessing these people loose everything they have, publicly humiliated, beaten, jailed, etc but they don't turn away from Jesus and his followers, and they are still being taken care of, it really sends a message.  If I was a witness to all this, I'd be really curious as to what this whole Jesus thing was all about.  Why would someone risk everything.  It must really be special.  


I love your perspective on this...It never even occurred to me that serving Jesus even through the worst kind of trials would have been an incredible draw for non believers.  Great point!

Lisa: It just goes to show that no matter what we are doing, people are watching our every move.  They are waiting to see how we respond and react, both to the good, but especially to the bad.  It's unfortunate that we are constantly on "display", but people are curious.  

My answer was very similar to Emily's, but I too love Jill's perspective. 
 

Share your thoughts!  The two of you always brings such great insight and I usually read your comments and go back and make notes again in my margins! 

Jill:  I really loved my NLT version of James 1:12 to paraphrase He who waits patiently enduring testing and temptation is blessed and will receive the crown of Life that God has PROMISED.  
I needed that last night after my stupid eating struggles.  Constant temptation surrounds me at work.  I am sure that isnt what the thought was, but it sure made me feel better after reading it. 

Lisa: Jill, I will continue to lift you up in prayer, and will be texting you a few times a week!  Not with condemnation, but with encouragement.