When Jesus said that "the poor will always be with us", some churches think that means they don't have to do anything for the poor. I was once part of a ministry that focused "only on spiritual needs"...but that's not what MY bible says, every church should have a benevolence fund to set aside money for those that need it...in fact, it's HARD to pray, rejoice, or be spiritual when you have nothing to eat:
1 John 3:17-18 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Deuteronomy 15:10-11 "You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. 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.’"
James 2:15-17 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Giving to the poor is seen as a commandment, a gift to God, an act of active faith, and even increases the giver's personal anointing...In conclusion, the Gospel truly isn't the Gospel without efforts being focused on helping the poor...this is the complete gospel!
Visit us at: urbancitytabernacle.org
Complete Gospel
Pastor Earl Davis
Tucson, Arizona
rbancitytabernacle.org