There are few absolutes in this world, death and taxes easily come to mind. Everything else tends to be this or that, and not dogmatic. Only those things of Heaven, or the afterlife are unchangeable. Another view of the difference between this world and Heaven is that change and growth is of this world, but in the afterlife it’s all over and there is no further opportunity to repent. Indeed, no one can grow enough in this world and get to Heaven. At the end we all rely on the mercy of God for our salvation.

Jesus clearly came for the poor. He said so many times, and clearly in Luke 4:14-22. But nobody seeks to be poor, and yet that is where Jesus said He would be. On its face, Jesus makes a very confusing statement. Truthfully, what we strive for and what we teach our kids is not to be poor; to be self-sufficient and have a good job that makes you happy. So, it ‘begs the question’, why did He come for the poor? I am not physically poor, and yet I desperately need Him, too!

What is it about the poor? To answer this question, we must examine other parts of the Gospels when He talks about being poor in spirit. (Matthew 5:3) Especially see (John 13:1-17), Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.

Also, a poor person tends to be very dependent. A person who is wealthier tends to be very independent, tempted not to need God or anyone else; and certainly not about to wash anyone’s feet. Considering, however (and paraphrasing) the greatest commandment (Matthew 22:37-39) ‘You shall be [dependent] on the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. You shall also be [dependent] on your neighbor as yourself.’ Maybe the rich young man who came to Jesus, is not literally asked to sell everything he had, give to the poor and follow Jesus (Matthew19 :16-30). Maybe he was rather asked to be poor in spirit, to be very dependent on God to love and be loved and to be very dependent on his neighbor to love and be loved.

My neighbor’s needs are, therefore, an opportunity to love and be loved. My neighbor’s needs are where Jesus is! Let us go there and stay there; loving God and neighbor and being loved by God and neighbor.