How Can the Poor Serve the Poor?

Yesterday morning, as I prepared for my day, I read and contemplated Proverbs 19. Solomon writes about God’s concern for the poor and how He rewards those who care for the poor and does not advance those who neglect the poor. I began to pray and ask God how this Scripture can apply to the church leaders I was about to teach.

None of the pastors at the training receive a salary from their church on a regular basis. When the offering has some money in it the leaders take out what is needed to pay “the bills” – usually a small electric bill and a land “tax,” what is needed to help the desperate is then spent. If there is anything left, the Pastor receives it and I have seen many of these men and women then give it to others they see have needs.

The ones tithing and giving are poor. The ones leading them are poor. The ones receiving help are poor. Do you see the irony?

If one has never been to a developing country – what we used to know as third world – I am not sure the word poor is defined correctly. I didn’t understand until I saw it and smelled it and experienced it.  What America, Canada, or Europe defines as poverty is not even close to what I am touching and feeling in Zambia right now. What North America and Europe defines as the “have nots” are literally wealthy compared to the children living in huts who no longer have mothers and fathers.

What some call poor are wealthy compared to the ones in our world who have no hope – none. No rescue mission. No Social services. No aid to dependent children. No welfare, workfare, or job fair – it is truly unfair.