Kingdom For The Poor

Continuing my series on the secrets of the kingdom.

There seems to be a connection between the good news of the kingdom of God and the poor.

Matthew 5:3 (NIV)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 6:20 (NIV)

Looking at his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Matthew 11:5 (NIV)

"The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor."

Luke 4:18 (NIV)

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,"

Luke 7:22 (NIV)

So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

James 2:5 (NIV)

"Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?"

But God? What about us who are rich? Do you have good news for us too? Can we inherit the kingdom too?

Matthew 19:23 (NIV)

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19:24 (NIV)

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Mark 10:23-24 (NIV)

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!

I have struggled with these passages for awhile now. I don't have any easy answers yet. I struggle not because I'm wealthy by North American standards. But I am aware there are billions of people with much less.

As we share the good news of the kingdom, is it a message of good news to the poor?

Related Posts:

• The Wealthy Church
• If anyone has material possessions
• Some thoughts from Mexico
• Nooma Rich
• Another look at Rich Young Ruler
• Sell all I have and give to the poor?
• Responsibility of the Wealthy