Devotional thought composed originally for TSA Devotional Book, June 2015.Presented to River Street Cafe, 26 February 2016 by Captain Michael Ramsay
Read
Matthew 6:19-21
As Christians do we have a responsibility
to take care of the poor?
Little
children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for
them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them. Jesus said, "Let
the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of
heaven belongs to such as these." When he had placed his hands on them, he
went on from there.
Now a
man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get
eternal life?"
"Why
do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One
who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which
ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus
replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not
give false testimony, honour your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbour
as yourself.'"
"All
these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus
answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a
rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel
to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
God."
When
the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who
then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is
impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:13-26).
“Do
not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy,
and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in
heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in
and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew
6:19-21).”
Canada
is one of the richest nations on earth; one in six Canadian children live in
poverty. Do I have a responsibility to share my wealth with those who are poor?
Yes.
How
can we better use our treasures on earth to love our neighbours and in the
process store up for ourselves treasures in heaven?
[1] Based on the article by Captain Michael Ramsay, As Christians do
we have a responsibility to take care of the poor? Nipawin Journal (January
2008) On-line: http://sheepspeak.com/sasknews.htm#poor
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