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Are the "Haves" Responsible for the "Have-Nots"?
By Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow
(Preached at Life BPC, 8am service, 19 Mar 2000 )
Text: Lev 19:9-10; Mk 7:10-13
Restated: Are the rich responsible for the poor?
In these days of fierce competition for a living we are hearing more and more of the importance of upgrading, going regional and global and entering the rat race of e-Commerce. Every message by the politician is on riches and more riches. We rarely hear of caring for the poor. The poor are not in the parlance of the rich and mighty. In this rat race, the poor are rather left out. In fact they are the more exploited. The small fish are eaten by the big.
It is only when you turn to the Bible that you find the poor remembered by a just and merciful God. There is plenty of teaching on taking care of the poor, both in the Old and New Testament.
Moses says, "If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth" (Deut 15:7,8). This statement is reinforced by the Apostle James in the N.T., "If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" (Jas 2:15 -17).
Now, let us turn to the first part of our Bible text, "And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God" (Lev 19:9,10).
This law lies behind the gleanings which Ruth, the poor Moabite daughter-in-law of Naomi, had gleaned after they returned from Moab to the field of Boaz in Bethlehem . The corners of the field and the droppings of sheaves of grain in the field are the portion of the poor and needy. The rich landlords are responsible for the poor of the nation.
When the poor pass through the land, say an orchard of figs, they can pluck the figs from the trees to eat, but they cannot carry out anything extra (Deut 23:24 ,25).
Then there is a law which blesses the Levites, the poor and strangers, "At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest" (Deut 14:28,29). Thus, even among the Muslims, they have a practice of feeding the poor on Hari Raya Haji that occurred during this week. In Malaysia , in a certain village, seven rich people will buy a cow costing between $1,600 and $1,800 and have it slaughtered and distribute the meat to the poor. In Singapore 130 sheep were imported from Australia and the meat given to thousands. Truly the poor are not forgotten in the face of the Lord.
In the N.T. we read of the Apostle's decree to the Church to remember the poor. In our work in Cambodia , we have hordes of poor people who come under our ministry. To relieve them Life Church has in the last two years sent 10 containers of surplus clothings and sardines, biscuits and baked beans. In turn Lifers are blessed.
Every year we apportion our Christmas offerings to worthy, needy (sick) members, missionaries and missions. And when we celebrate our Church anniversary we invite all FEBC students and inmates of Beulah House to dinner. This is in obedience to our Lord's command, "But when thou makest a feast, call the poor. . . And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just" (Lk 14:13 ,14).
When we do works of charity we are blessed of the Lord. Suffice it to quote 3 verses. "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble" (Ps 41:1). "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse" (Prov 28:27). There is a Chinese proverb akin to this. Lastly, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again" (Prov 19:17 ). This blessing is experienced by those who gave or loaned to Beulah House. They have not become poorer but richer. There are several cases of those who loaned to the Lord; but converted their loans into gifts, for they were thankful for the abundant blessings that have come upon them during the interval.
To take care of one's aged parents is all the more incumbent on us (Mk 7:10 -13). But in Jesus' time there were the unfilial children who tried to defraud by declaring "Corban" on their dues to parents, that the portion owing them is given to God. Thus, they claim exemption. Now the dutifulness of children to parents is very much a part of Chinese ethics. The Jews and the Chinese have this law in common.
When children are grown up and well-established they should take care of their parents. Even when their parents are well to do and need not their funds, it is good to show their love to them by taking them out to dinner once in a while. It is good as children to bring something nice to dad and mum, in their remembrance.
By so honouring them, they inherit long life. Filial children are so blessed, and so are the rich who exercise responsibility for their poor brethren.
Are the haves responsible for the have-nots? The rich responsible for the poor? The world has no time to answer this question, but the Word has given us many lessons that we must learn. Amen.
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