John 12:1-8 KJV — Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead. [2] There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
[3] Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. [4] Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
[5] Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? [6] This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. [7] Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. [8] For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.
The story shared above teaches great lessons on maintaining a balance in the discharge of your Christian duty towards the poor.
Sometimes, in our bid to maintain a duty, towards the poor, we throw away caution and planning. Many of us walk in the letter and not in the spirit, especially when we are judging the conduct of others. We heap loads and burdens upon the already burdened few, while we do nothing.
Judas was quick to judge another for fulfilling her ministry to the Lord, while he did nothing. The testimony of John even reveals that Judas Iscariot sometimes stole from the money bag. Often, people lambast the church and the pastor for not helping enough; forgetting that the church does not generate income but depends on what we contribute.
Listen, takers lack conscience and will continue to take as long as you are giving. You must understand the boundaries, this will help you to give to the poor and needy cheerfully. The poor we will always have with us.
The poor, you will always have with you.
Jesus said1 the poor we will always have because;
- Some people have refused to work, invest, or plan their spending
- Some are too stingy and unwilling to give, hence are unable to change their financial levels. The Dead Sea is dead because it receives all the water but none flows out.
- Many operate under curses and hexes; their heavens are shut.
I pray that today will mark the beginning of liberation and change.
Stay blessed
- Mark 14:7 — For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. ↩︎
