791. GAL 2:10. REMEMBRANCE OF THE POOR ENJOINED

Gal_2:10. Remembrance of the Poor Enjoined

"We should remember the poor."’97Gal_2:10.

One part of religion consists in yielding cheerful homage, reverential fear, and sincere and affectionate obedience to God. Another part of true religion consists in the right regulation of our own faculties and powers, and in the progressive sanctification of our hearts. Inward, experimental piety is having the kingdom of God within us. That kingdom which is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. But there is a third branch of acceptable religion, which consists in our conduct towards our fellowmen. Equity, love, and mercy are indispensable to this part of practical piety. We are to honor all men; to do unto all men as we would they should do unto us. We are to love all men. And finally, we are to show mercy unto all. Our text relates to a specific duty we owe to one class of our fellow-creatures. Observe, I. To whom the text refers.

II. The duty the text specifies.

III. The motives by which it may be enforced.

I. To whom the text refers.

"The poor." The poor need no description. We are acquainted with them. It is not necessary to go to their comfortless dwellings, or to describe their insufficient clothing, or to speak of their necessities and sufferings. Let us take two or three views of the poor.

1. Many are so evidently through the righteous appointment of God.

In every age of; the world, &c. In the earliest period to which revelation refers. Book of Job. In all countries, &c. We see everywhere this diversity of condition; and it is written, "The poor shall never cease in the land." There are myriads who never could have been otherwise. Their lot has thus fallen. It is their heritage, &c.

2. Many are poor through their own imprudence.

Poor in spite of God’s bounty. How many are poor through extravagance, and riot, and waste. Look at the prodigal. He spent his portion, and then he was in want. The improvident involve others,’97the anxious care-worn wife, the helpless dependent children. Of all vices intemperance has made the greatest number of poor; yea, more than all other sources put together.

3. There are the pious poor.

Those whose poverty has been sanctified. Those who gladly heard the gospel of salvation. Those who have godliness and contentment, which is great gain. There was a Lazarus. There was the liberal widow. There are tens of thousands who are poor in the temporal sense of the word, yet are heirs of the kingdom. Notice,

II. The duty the text specifies.

"We should remember," &c. Now the text means more than recollection or memory. This remembrance is unavoidable. But our remembrance,

1. Should be devotional.

We should remember them in our prayers. "I will that prayer and supplication should be made for all men," &c. We should bear them up in our arms of intercession, and supplicate God’s kindness on their behalf. Our remembrance,

2. Should be kind and benevolent.

We should cherish feelings of love and compassion. Our speech, and temper, and disposition should all breathe goodwill, pure benevolence. Our remembrance,

3. Should be sympathetic and practical. We cannot love them without sympathizing with them in their sorrows. We are commanded to "weep with those who weep," &c. And where this sympathy is genuine, it will lead us to give our aid to alleviate their sorrows, and remove their distresses. Without helping, our pity is mere fiction, and our sympathy worthless. Our love and sympathy are to be made tangible, imbodied. See Jam_2:15, Jam_2:16.

4. It should be constant.

So long as the poor exist, and so long as we possess the ability, so long are we to "remember the poor." It ought not to be a remembrance of constraint, irksome, or unpleasant; but the cheerful and ready service of the heart. Notice, then,

III. The motives by which it may be enforced.

"We should remember," &c.

1. Because of the indissoluble affinity which subsists between us.

That is a striking and sublime passage, Act_17:21. Noble blood, royal blood, &c., are foolish and absurd, if not wicked distinctions. Roam through the world, descend in the scale of society, find the most abject, the most distressed and wretched, whatever may be his color or language, &c., he is thy brother. He has thy nature, &c. Not to remember the poor is to insult the claims of humanity.

2. Because of our mutual connection and dependence.

The rich and the poor all meet, &c. Now the rich are dependent on the poor, if not to the same extent as the poor are dependent on the rich. Look how numerous the classes who have to labor for the comfort of the rich. Some have to build our houses; make our furniture, clothes, &c. Many of these, through their large families and contingencies, &c., are ever poor’97but particularly so in sickness.

3. Because God has strictly enforced it in every age and dispensation.

If we go back to the Levitical dispensation, one passage shall suffice, Deu_15:7, &c. Hear what God says by the prophets, Isa_3:13, &c.; Eze_22:29; Dan_4:27. Hear what the apostles taught, Rom_12:10, Rom_12:15; Heb_13:16. Now as we are but stewards, if we refuse to obey God we rob both him and the poor. One intention of our pecuniary talents is, that we may remember the poor.

4. Because of that true pleasure and of those real benefits which a remembrance of the poor will produce.

It is the soul’s highest pleasure and dignity. To share with angels. To feel and act as God himself acts. Many promises, Psa_41:1, Psa_41:3.

5. In this way we honor the blessed Redeemer.

Not only by obeying and imitating him, but by regarding those whose condition he honored. Think of the condition of Jesus. "He was poor." Perhaps you never knew a person so poor as Christ. Indifference to the poor is indignity to Christ; Christ deems it done to himself.

6. Because of that common level to which all classes are hastening.

We brought nothing into this world, &c. Soon all distinctions will cease. Go to the grave. Go to the judgment-seat, &c.

Application

1. Let this duty have the serious consideration of all.

2. Let not duty be the basis of your hope, but the evidence of your piety.

3. Let the rich seek after poverty of spirit.

4. The poor after the riches of eternal life.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS