Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – The Least of These
By Alan Andrews
September 2007
Our Presence with “the Least of These”
From that day in the courtroom, God has continued to cultivate in me and my wife a passion for the poor. It is true that the poor feel helpless and hopeless. It is also true that many have no resources or capacity to improve their situation without God’s love being poured out on their entire lives. Yes, we must never diminish the central need of the saving power of the cross and resurrection life. But, we must also remember that the fullness of the gospel is the transforming power that ultimately includes all aspects of life. This journey begins with loving friends to help in painful circumstances just as we had when we went to trial.
The more we are among the poor, the more we love the poor. For most of God’s people, developing a heart for the poor is cultivated by being among the poor. When Jesus “saw the multitudes, he felt compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). When we see people as they really are, not as they seem, we begin to feel the compassion of God for them.
Some weeks ago I spent some time with a homeless man named Ron. As we talked, he shared insights with me into his world and his perspective on the deceitfulness of riches. Our interaction included sophisticated technology and complex social systems. As I listened to him, I saw some of the beauty of God in his understanding of spiritual realities and the problem of the material dream. I also saw how the bondage of sin gripped him. I felt tremendous compassion for him as we talked. Jesus came to give Ron “good news” filled with help and hope. Ron is not beyond the reach of the gospel.
My prayer is that most of God’s people will not have to experience a day in court to discover the pain and hopelessness of the poor. One of the tragedies of the Body of Christ is that many have justified their lack of involvement with the poor by simply saying, “I’m not called to serve the poor.” Let me suggest that we are all called to serve among the poor in some way. It is in the very DNA of the Kingdom of God. We are never justified in ignoring the needs of the “the least of these.”
I encourage and even challenge you to go and be among those in need. Enter into the world of the poor and discover that the Kingdom of God begins with “the least of these.” Jesus is already there!
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Alan Andrews is the US director for The Navigators. Prior to his current position, he directed ministries in Canada, Asia and the US for The Navigators. |