Flourishing are the Poor in spirit

Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? James 2:5 CSB

I can’t help but imagine that Jesus had people like Lalta in his thoughts when he began the first beatitude, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.” Lalta is from Alwar, India. Lalta was a human scavenger, her job was to clean human excrement out of dry latrines by hand, put it into a reed basket, carry it on her head to a dumping ground outside of the city, and deposit it. Lalta, similar to the other scavengers, had one thing in common, the loss of dignity. Lalta said, “There was no happiness in our lives. It actually had no meaning. All the time it was either people’s filth on the head or its thought in the heart.”

Lalta couldn’t solve her, problem but with the help of an international non-profit organization called Sulabh International, (www.Sulabhinternational.org) her life was changed forever. The organization is committed to addressing the need for safe, clean sanitation by replacing dry latrines with public and household toilets. What happened to the scavengers who lost their livelihood? The organization provides training in new careers and much more, giving these former outcasts a new dignity.

Lalta was trained as a beautician, as others were trained to work in food processing, office jobs, or given micro-credits to start small businesses. She can now say, “From a heap of humiliation to the heights of self-respect and self-confidence, I believe life has turned out miraculously for the good. I don’t ask for more, for today I can stand and face the world with respect.” (Michael Marmot, The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World)

Nothing says decadence like a $1,000 Golden Opulence Sundae from Serendipity 3 in New York City. (www.serendipity3com). This Guinness World Record holder for “Most Expensive Sundae in the World” greets you with “layers of 23-carat gold, creamy Tahitian vanilla ice cream made with beans from Madagascar, truffles, caramelized fruits, chocolate sauce, and sweet caviar made with Grand Marnier and passion fruit.” (tastingtable.com) All of this decadence is served in a $350 Baccarat crystal goblet with an 18-carat gold spoon on the side. You do get the goblet for a take-home memory but you have to order in advance.

As I read Leonard Sweet’s book, Rings of Fire: Walking in Faith through a Volcanic Future, I couldn’t help but think of Jesus’ words in his first beatitude in Matthew 5:3. Sweet mentioned these two illustrations and as I researched each one of the stories, I was overwhelmed by the stark comparisons. Jesus’ words that morning to the crowd that gathered must have brought great encouragement to those who thought or rather knew that were poor. Their economic poverty added to their spiritual poverty yet here was a teacher telling them they were blessed even in their poverty.

“As much as the poor, the rich will always be with us. The fact that someone else has a better car or a bigger house is of no consequence, or shouldn’t be. If Jesus wants to pay some people more who do less, as long as everyone is given a generous wage, why should we be envious that life is more generous to some than to others? Wealth is not the problem. Poverty is.” (Leonard Sweet)

Jesus’ words that morning reminded them of God’s concern for the poor. Long before these words were spoken, God had set in motion concern for the poor and outcasts of society. Today the responsibility of the church has never been greater to live out the words of Jesus. “Those who cannot see Christ in the poor are atheists indeed.” (Dorothy Day)

God cares that we make provision for the poor. “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field…Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 19:9-10

God cares that all are treated fairly. “Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” Leviticus 19:15

God cares that we help those in need. “If anyone is poor…do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Deut 15:7-8

God cares that we defend the poor. “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:3-4

God cares that we show kindness to the poor. “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Prov 19:17

God cares how we treat the poor. “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40

If God cares, then it becomes imperative that we care. Dorothy Wordsworth wrote in 1800 that “there would be only two ranks of people, the very rich and the very poor.” In 2019 Larry Elliott wrote, “Twenty-six people now own as much wealth as the poorest half of the world’s population.”

Though Sulabh may not be a Christian-based non-profit, God is using it to change the lives of people. The challenge we each face is to hear the words, “Blessed are the poor” and how we can make a difference until they know they are blessed. “The world can no more keep out trouble of spirit than a paper shield a bullet. Earthly things are like a castle of snow under the heat of the sun. Sole enjoyments of the world become a curse in the end. How many have pulled down their souls to build up an estate!” (Thomas Watson)

It is easy to become discouraged at the widening gap in this new age of mega wealth and wonder how the poor can be blessed, how we can make a difference, and how we can live with contentment with what we have. However, it will never be the size of our bank account that makes the difference but the size of our God. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” 2 Cor 8:9

God is great!

Praying for those who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene