Jude 2

If we are the body of Christ and Christ came not for the healthy but the sick-we need to be fully present in the places where people are most broken.

--Under the Overpass

For ye have the poor always with you...

If we are the body of Christ and Christ came not for the healthy but the sick-we need to be fully present in the places where people are most broken.

All are "Broken" in the sense all need to be "fixed." Some are not "Broken" in the sense they have surrendered their rebellion, accepted their responsibility for their sinful state, and are ready to accept the Word of God. Those "poor" people are who we should be seeking out. Most of the time those people are those who are financially poor & whose lives are in a shambles. It is usually not those who are rich, "self-made", self-sufficient, who think their lives are not broken and who don't want any help. In that sense we need to be with the broken who are broken while not ignoring the broken who aren't broken.

"Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven." (Matt 5:3)

forestwalker wrote:For ye have the poor always with you...

...and that verse is not intended to say "Might as well throw up your hands and do nothing, because you will never eliminate poverty." Rather it suggests that there will always be opportunities and reasons to bless those less fortunate.

No doubt! I posted that as supporting the quote, not contradicting it. Christ's statement is not one of cynical futility but the presumption that His people will always be among and serving the poor and that the poor will always be attracted to the Gospel.