Jesus’ Words in Red The Poor

Jesus’ Words in Red

The Poor

“You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me." 

It was extravagant for Mary to anoint the feet of Him who brings Good News

The one who was to die on the cross so we might have eternal life

Let’s continue to do all we can for the victims of poverty

But let’s not forget if a person dies without Jesus and the work of the cross we have done very little in light of eternity

Make sure you use your wealth wisely

Invest it in anointing Jesus and the things He has called you to do

Our only real hope is to “have Jesus”   

“But you will not always have Me." 

The greatest poverty is not having Jesus

The Poor

Jesus said… 

“You will always have the poor among you”

What a true statement.

At the time of writing this devotional

America is reaching out to those who

have been effected by Hurricane Harvey.

With only 20% of the homes having Flood

Insurance, of the other 80% many will become poor.

One storm and a life of comfort turns into poverty.

Harvey did not discriminate by race or status.

America with its churches are

stepping up to help in a big way.

The disciples of Jesus Christ and the

church have always made ministry to

the poor a major part of church life.

With all our efforts we cannot

keep up with the needs of the poor.

With the needs of the poor being so great

should we consider all our efforts on the poor?

Jesus seems to answer this question.

Mary had taken an expensive

perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet.

This, I think, most of us would

have considered a waste.

Some of us might have considered it a

waste because the needs of the poor is so great.

Others might be like Judas who brought up the issue

because we think we could have used it in more

effective ways, making our life a little easier.

It should not shock us that Jesus

again takes an eternal perspective.

Jesus did not look at the short term fix…

 It could have helped some poor people.

Jesus points to the eternal plan

that will help rich and poor…

His death on the cross.

 We cannot stop poverty and what good

does it do to help a person have another

meal and miss the riches of heaven.

The only thing that will stop

poverty is the gift of eternal life.

I know what it is to be called poor,

to live under the poverty line.

I know of the struggles to make ends meet.

But of all the help I have received from others

and the church, (which I am forever grateful)…

All of it put together cannot

compare to the gift of eternal life.

The poor and the rich have this in common…

They will both die.

While we are alive we need to help one another.

But the eternal need, spiritual poverty, is far

more devastating than any poverty in this life.

In a 100 years from now it won’t matter how

many meals you shared with the poor

unless your act of kindness helps some-

one find the true riches of eternal life

through the death of Jesus Christ.

As we fulfill the commands of scripture to

care for the poor, we also need to put a high

value on the work of Jesus on the cross.

It will take billions of dollars to help the poor

people effected by Hurricane Harvey.

That money will not pay for all the needs.

In the same way those billions

cannot buy eternal life.

As of today, the death toll from

Hurricane Harvey is 32 people.

32 people who no longer need food

and shelter, they needed eternal life.

Let’s continue to do all we

can for the victims of poverty…

But let’s not forget if a person dies without Jesus

and the work of the cross we have

done very little in light of eternity.

Make sure you use your wealth wisely.

Invest it in anointing Jesus and

the things He has called you to.

Our only real hope is to “have Jesus”.

   

“But you will not always have me."

 

The greatest poverty is not having Jesus.

Scripture Reading

John 12:1-8 NIV

12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7 "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."