Who Is A Poor Man

Jesus said to the rich man in Matthew 19:21-24, sell what you have and give to those who don’t have, from this Biblical context, a poor man is someone who doesn’t have; he doesn’t have what to eat, he has no good place to lay his head, and he has no good attire to put on.

The verse doesn’t teach or instruct you to sell all you have and give to those who don’t have, Jesus said it that way for a test of the willingness to help the poor out what we have, for instance if you’ve a barn, out of it, give some to the poor, if you some money in your store, still give some to the poor.

A poor man isn’t someone who can afford three plates of meal a day, a poor man is someone who doesn’t have hope of what to eat.

God sees the poor, I could remember that year, I was preparing for church, my spirit said to me, “Go with enough money, some people who don’t have what yo eat this week will come to you, give the money to them” approaching the church, I felt like I needed to add some more than I already did, so I turned to the ATM spot. After church service, a woman and her children came to me, and said, “Brother, we don’t have what to eat this week, please help us” I just put my hand in my left pocket and gave to them because I was expectant even before I left the house, God sees the poor, He hears their cry, help them.

You may not understand what people are going through, but at times, you need to be in the spirit and allow God to use you to help people going through difficult times.

I also remember a Sunday afternoon years ago, we were about to dismiss, my Pastor Raph (JP), called out a man, and said to him, God revealed to him, he has nothing to eat, he doesn’t even have plans of tomorrow, the man fell down before the altar and started crying, I speak the truth, people are going through a lot, allow God to use you and help them, why would someone come to church with no hope of what to eat and still go home empty? Because some of us have become too distracted to know when a brother / sister has no food, our eyes are closed by la futilité du monde.

A poor man has no hope of what to eat, he’s afraid of the landlord, he hasn’t paid his rent over months, he puts on a particular type of dress for years because he has no means to get another.

Jesus asked the poor, “what can I do for you? The Apostles asked the same, can we ask in the same manner, “What can I do for you?”

The rich refers to people who can afford the three basic needs of man, Jesus said give to those who don’t have, if you’ve three plates of meal, give one plate to those who have none.

She doesn’t need to be your sister or brother, he doesn’t need to be your friend, there’s no stated reward when you help only those related to you, because it’s your responsibility, and there is no reward when you help only friends, it’s an obligation of friendship, but there is a reward when you give gifts to those who aren’t related to you, because it takes an Abrahamic heart to care for strangers.

?What’s your reward if you only help family and friends, Jesus said give to the poor, He didn’t say give only to your relatives and friends, He said the poor, which is everyone, no boundaries of familiarity.

Mephibosheth was a Prince in the house of Saul when David was a shepherd boy in the bush, it isn’t where we are today that matters but where we will be be tomorrow, be kind and compassionate to people today and every hour, so that God will show you mercy when tomorrow comes.

When tomorrow came, David was the King in the Palace and Prince Mephiboshet was a pauper in the most solitary places in Israel, Lodibar.

Life ticks like a clock, no one knows what it holds the next second.
Life is a clock of yesterday, today and tomorrow, no one can tell what the tick of time holds, so don’t be proud and arrogant because you can afford your needs today, don’t laugh at those who don’t have, don’t make mockery of the poor, don’t oppress or take advantage on people who don’t have, for God sees.
Instead of mocking the hungry man, give him food to eat, at times I don’t know the type of heart humans have.

He gave her some money to pay her school fees but in return got her pregnant, did he help her or destroyed her?

I saw him give the poor man food and gift at the front door, at the back door, he went in with his wife and daughter, this is the type of help we see in the world; help for Interest.

If the Word of God (Spirit of God) dwells is in you, when you see the poor, your heart will be moved to show some kindness, yes I know, we can’t change the entire world, but we can change the world in a miniature way.

If the Word of God dwells in you, when you see the poor, you would hear a voice in your head, it says, “What can I do for him?” And that’s the voice of the Gospel.

Jesus always asked the poor, “What can I do for you?” The Apostles asked the same. You may not have enough but the little you have is most enough to ask.

-Kanayo Ebuka