It's not spiritual enough

Over the years, I've heard several people explain the reasons that they aren't more involved in helping the poor. One of the reasons I heard was that "A focus on people's physical needs takes away time and attention that should be directed towards people's spiritual needs." While people who voice this objection generally have a good heart and good intentions, such a belief is not based on Scripture or an appropriate understanding of the world around them.

First of all, this reason is contrary to Scripture. Jesus tells a story of the end times where He separates out the sheep and the goats. (Mt. 25:31-40). He tells the sheep that they will inherit a kingdom because when Jesus was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick and in prison that the sheep had fed, clothed, sheltered and visited Him. The sheep respond by asking when did we ever see You hungry or thirsty. Jesus' response was "[T]o the extent that you di it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me." Jesus was telling His listeners that there is eternal value in showing compassion for the physical needs of others. Even when caring for those who ars hungry or thirsty is not coupled with preaching, there is still inherent value in feeding, clothing and sheltering them. Not only is this work eternally valuable, it is as though we are caring for and showing compassion on God Himself.

Also, James 1:27 says "This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress..." (NAS). Strong's Concordance indicates that the word distress, which can also be translated affliction, means "anguish, burden, persecution, tribulation, trouble." What are the burdens and troubles of widows and orphans? Some emotional, some spiritual, but surely as well a they are burdend with being able to provide for their physical needs. Scripture states that when we care for the needs of orphans and widows we engage in pure and undefiled religion. Pure and undefiled religion surely does not lack in spirituality or eternal value.

This only begins to scratch the surface of Scriptures indicating that caring for the poor has eternal significance. In addition to these Scriptures indicating that giving to the poor is a Spiritual act in and of itself, such concern for the needy also has side-effects of monumental Spiritual importance. These will be taken up soon, but in the mean time, let us not belittle as unworthy acts that God has deemed to be of supreme eternal value.