Who Cares for the Needy?

By Wanda Parker

Do you think it is possible to want to help the poor and in the end actually harm them?  Do you think that the poor can become an idol?  That we can in the end actually put them before God, all the while doing it in His name?

Jesus certainly told His followers that they must serve the poor – or else!  Matthew 25:31-46

Then He said, the poor will always be with you.  What did He mean?  Mark 14:3-9

I’ve been pondering this and have come to this conclusion looking at both passages in the context of the entire Bible.

We definitely have a responsibility to serve the poor and we will be held accountable if we don’t.  However, that does not excuse putting the poor before God Almighty.  We make the poor more important than God when in serving them we break God’s laws, or we twist His truth. 

I’ve seen a lot of twisting of the truth lately in the name of social justice.

Just as the Israelites did at the foot of Mt Sinai, I’m seeing new gods created to fit each individual’s idea of who God is.  Rather than truth we want a god who will make us feel good. 

But the problem is that when we create this new god we are doing harm not only to ourselves but to those we want to serve. 

God’s anger was great, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people.  Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.”  Ex. 32:9&10

Moses had to fight for the people so God wouldn’t destroy them – God’s anger was great.

Do you think He is any less angry when new gods are created today?  Even if we do it in the name of social justice?  Even though we call this new god Jesus? 

I believe God wants us to do social justice, He wants us to fight for social justice – but under the banner of His truth.

Let me know what you think.