I think it’s fair to say that many of our attitudes toward the poor are mostly disdain and fear. Sometimes there is a suspicion that their condition is their own fault, that they are simply lazy or inferior. Some of us are more kind-hearted, but prefer not to look at the poor too closely, because it is depressing, and they are surely not fun people to be with.

These attitudes are a world away from God’s attitudes, as described in the bible. Neediness arouses compassion in God– and action.  Ephesians 2:1-10 tells us that we were once dead in sin, but were made alive in Christ because of God’s great mercy.  God acted.  Christ became poor so that we may become rich (2 Cor 8:9).  Because God acted and raised us from the dead, we are now God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to act – to do good works.  Therefore, may the neediness around us arouse in us a godly compassion for the poor and let us not shrink back from action.