Have you ever considered yourself to be one of “the poor”? Do you now or have you ever experienced periods of uncertainty, not knowing where your next meal was coming from? For many in our large cities including Toronto, this is their daily dilemma.
The term, “the poor” is often used to describe a certain group of people. But being poor is a relative thing – once your relatives find out that you are poor, they no longer have anything to do with you. But seriously, those that are considered “the poor” in the city of Toronto, would be quite rich in some other parts of the world.
In Toronto for example, the poverty line is drawn around $33,000. So, you are considered “the poor” if your annual income is below that line. But in many parts of the world if that were your annual salary, you won’t be considered poor.
Sometimes you hear people say, no matter what we do, there will always be poor people around us. And they would add, “Jesus said we will always have the poor with us.” But what does that mean? And was that what Jesus said? We will examine exactly what Jesus said about ‘the poor’ and why he said it.
My friend Dean O’Connor (Souls for Christ Ministry) sees this first hand as he goes to the downtown streets of Toronto, at least three times per week to minister to the poor, the homeless, and the marginalized, providing sleeping bags, blankets, water and many of the other necessities that we take for granted.
A few days ago, Dean wrote on social media, “I hit the streets and saw many in need! Gave out 7 sleeping bags several blankets, heavy tops, socks, a few coats many granola bars and Tim cards for meals! Quite a few asked for water and started drinking it right away! He said, thanks to ‘Reapers in the Rain’ – (A Charity that provides for the poor in downtown TO) for the clothes again this season! Thanks to all who pray and give; helping us to be Jesus to a city in need of His love!”
According to a recent report 1, the number of ‘working poor’ in the Toronto Region increased by 42% just over a five-year period. Toronto’s working poor live in a region with the highest cost of living in Canada and the second most expensive housing market in the country.
This group accounted for more than 70,000 adults in the City of Toronto and more then 113,000 in the region overall. For many, full-time job earnings are not enough to escape poverty. “Across the Toronto Region, many people are working in jobs where they remain poor. The people serving you at a food counter are often struggling to put food on their own table,” said the report 1
December 18, 2023 – TORONTO – New research from The Salvation Army Canada finds Canadians are struggling to meet their basic needs with inflation, food affordability and housing security persisting as top issues. Single parents, caregivers and single-person households are facing the most pressure, demonstrating how these struggles are not felt equally by all Canadians.
So, what can we do, as people of faith who are charged with the mandate to help our brothers and sisters in need? Quite commendably, several churches and faith groups in the recent past, became “Good Samaritans” and at their own expense, rescued hundreds of refugees, asylum seekers, and the poor from off the streets on Toronto. God bless you all!
In this account in Mark 14, Jesus was invited to dinner at the home of a certain man. As he sat reclining at the table, a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard – a class of aromatic essential oil. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. But Jesus came to her defence.
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me” (Mark 14:5-7).
When people quote Jesus, they usually stop here. “The poor you will always have with you.”
This was not a prediction of doom or a statement of resignation on Jesus’ part. If you read further, you will see His intent. “and you can help them any time you want.” So, whenever you see “the poor,” remember Jesus’ statement, and you can help them any time you want.”
These next two verses from the Book of Proverbs remind us that our labor of love to “the poor” will not go unrewarded.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done (Proverbs 19:17).
The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor (Proverbs 22:9).
The theme of this post is this: Live generously and help those that are less fortunate and the Lord will greatly reward you!
1. John Stapleton, Brian Murphy, and Yue Xing wrote The “Working Poor” in the Toronto Region.
