Advantage Goes to the Poor and Weak

How "the least of these" demonstrate a more lasting form of wealth

What if our reluctance to participate in Jesus’s love for the poor is because we don’t want to see straight?

What if the downcast are God’s gift to those with eyes to see?

What if the poor and downcast, like little children, are our most qualified teachers about things that matter in life, how God operates, and what gives us our value?

Bishop N.T. Wright says:

“Don’t let the world leave its dirty smudge on you. The world is always assessing people, sizing them up, putting them down, establishing a pecking order.”

Pope Francis adds:

“All life has inestimable value…the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn, and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost respect and reverence.”

Every person is a masterpiece of God’s creation. This means no person can legitimately be labeled a “drain” on society. None can legitimately be dismissed. All are crowns of God’s creation, made a little less than the angels, carriers of the divine imprint, clothed with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5-7).

Being poor is no more a curse from God than being rich is a blessing from God. Jesus explicitly said that material lack can support spiritual abundance, and material excess can inhibit our life with God, isolate us from reality, and pierce us with many griefs.

Austrian businessman, Karl Raebeder, after giving his entire multi-million fortune away to charity, said the following:

“For a long time I believed that more wealth and luxury automatically meant more happiness…But over time a conflicting feeling developed. More and more I heard the words, 'Stop what you’re doing now—all this luxury and consumerism—and start your real life.' I had the feeling I was working as a slave for things that I did not wish for or need…It was the biggest shock in my life when I realized how horrible, soulless, and without feeling the five-star lifestyle is…we spent all the money you could possibly spend. But in all that time we had the feeling we hadn’t met a single real person—that we were all just actors. The staff played the role of being friendly and [we] played the role of being important, and nobody was real.”

Since following through with his radical decision, Raebeder said he has felt “free, the opposite of heavy.”

“Blessed are you who are poor,” Jesus said, “for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). Interestingly, Matthew’s gospel adds poor “in spirit,” but Luke—a known champion for those who are unseen, under-served, and under-appreciated—does not.

The gospels and real life help us see that material wealth cannot save us and will not solve all of life’s problems. This is why the famous actor, Jim Carrey, said he wishes everyone could be rich and famous and have everything they ever wanted so they can know it’s not the answer.

Jesus, who left the riches of glory and became poor by choice, helps us see that the poor are not merely recipients of the world’s charity. Rather, the poor have something unique to offer to the world. The poor demonstrate what it looks like for humans to live from a place of need. For it is only from a place of need that we too can experience a kind of freedom that is “the opposite of heavy.”

In Jesus’s own words:

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Our meaning comes from Jesus as we show him empty hands and admit we are not as strong as we think we are. He is our truest wealth, and is far superior to such a small thing as money.

God’s kingdom moves downward. Spiritual wealth is easiest to access as we realize our own bankruptcy. Looking square into the faces and stories of the poor, weak, downcast, and dependent can help us with this.

Who among us will be brave and wise enough to look first?