The Poor

http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/brook-hills-audio/id319699838 
This sermon by David Platt was amazing, like all of his are. It's the 2nd in a series of 4 on the book of Ruth. It's sermon #94 on this link.

So I was thinking while listening to this sermon (and RUNNING!!! praise God I finally got to run!), I was thinking about how Boaz treated Ruth, a foreign woman who did not deserve to be in his land, especially did not deserve to glean from the fields meant for Israelites only. It got me to thinking about how we in America treat the "illegal aliens" as they're so often referred to. They're poor, just like Ruth. They're out of place, just like Ruth. The circumstances that brought Ruth to Bethlehem were not favorable whatsoever, and although we don't usually even take the time to find out the circumstances that bring each "illegal alien" to our communities, I'm sure their circumstances have not been all that lovely either. Why else would they come to America? Hoping for a better life for their families.

Regardless of the political "fairness" of the illegal alien situation in America, God has modeled for us and called us to take care of the poor. His heart beats for the poor. And He doesn't just give the bare minimum, just like Boaz didn't give the bare minimum. God sent His Son, and now is sending His Spirit and His church to the poor. Boaz sent Ruth home with not just one day's gleanings, but with a bag of grain that weighed somewhere between 30 and 50 pounds plus leftover lunch plus the guarantee of safe gleaning in his field for the rest of harvest time!

Are we giving the illegal aliens, like Ruth, among us anything? If we are giving them anything, are we just giving them the bare minimum that makes our conscience feel better? Or are we allowing God to break our hearts for them as His heart breaks for them, to enter into life and community with them, and take care of them holistically for the long haul? Lots for me to think about, in regards to the situation in America as well as here. Join me in thinking about this and praying about the changes God wants to make using His church. And listen to this sermon! It's so good :)