When the disciples of John the Baptist asked Jesus if He is the Christ, in Luke 7:22 He answered and said, "Go and report to John... (1) the blind receive sight, (2) the lame walk, (3) the lepers are cleansed, (4) the deaf hears, (5) the dead are raised up, and (6) the poor have the gospel preached to them." We have seen the first 5 items fulfilled many times in the Bible, but if Jesus preached the gospel to the poor, then why are they still poor?" Diba sabi nya in Luke 6:20, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God"? But why can't His kingdom bless them today? So we tell the poor that a better life is waiting for them when they die and go to heaven. But, for the meantime????
If I tell you that you have won P100M in the lotto, will that be good news for you? I believe so. But how would you feel if I tell you that you can only spend the money 50 years from now? Will that still be good news for you? I dont think so. Kasi a news is only "good" if it benefits you today, besides there is no assurance that you will still be alive in 50 years.
As I study the Bible, I learned that in the Jewish culture, they believe in a direct correlation between obedience to the law and the condition of their lives. Psalm 1 says that a man who delights in the law of the Lord will prosper in whatever he does, but the wicked will perish. But who are the wicked? They are the people with twisted minds because while they know that obedience to the law will prosper them, they disobey it and insist on doing things their way.
Jesus offered the kingdom of God to the poor so that they can have a better life today, even while still here on earth. But they need to accept Jesus as the only way into that kingdom (John 14:6), and once inside the kingdom, they must be ready to do His Father's will (Matthew 7:21). If they are righteous, because of their obedience, Matthew 6:33 says all things will be added to them today and not just when they get to heaven.
But what are some of the instructions the poor should know and obey? 1 Timothy 5:8 says that if you do not provide for your family, you are worse than an unbeliever. Proverbs 20:13 says, "Do not love sleep, or you will become poor." Proverbs 12:24 says, "The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be put to forced labor." The poor who hear the gospel will remain poor if they do not act on the gospel Jesus preached. The gospel is supposed to give all of us an equal chance to have a better life today, but only those who live according to His laws will enjoy it. So let us help the poor by teaching them and showing them the better way, which comes when you follow Jesus Christ.
