The Parable of the Trees is the first parable in the Bible. The crisis in our country is leadership. We desperately need it. “If the gold rust then what shall the iron do”? In these verses we have a pitiful politician and a nation in disarray. What we have here are three steps in the decline of a nation:-

1. Definition of poverty

The condition in which people lack sufficient money, goods or means of income to obtain certain minimal levels of health services, food, housing, clothing, and education generally recognised as necessary to ensure an adequate standard of living. What is considered adequate, however, depends on the average standard of living in a particular society.

By modern western standards, most men who lived in Biblical times would be classified as poor. Yet Biblical standards designated only some as poor. The poor widow had nothing left after her contribution to the treasury (See Mark 12:42-44), but others who were termed poor had enough to make meagre sacrifices. (See Leviticus 14:21ff).

2. The poor in the Old Testament

Christianity gets its tradition of caring for the poor from its beginnings in the Old Testament. The writers of the Old Testament books lived at different times and in different situations, but they hammer home the idea that God cares about the poor and wants them treated well.

• It is based on the Jewish belief that all men and women are created in the image of God and are equal in His sight. For example, in the creation story they are given power over the rest of the earth, but not over one another. (See Genesis 1:27-31).
• It is based on the nation’s own experience as slaves in Egypt. The history of the Jews gave them sympathy with the underdog.
• It is based on God’s law. (See Deuteronomy 24:14-22) Later as Jewish society got wealthier under the Kings of Israel and Judah, the gap between rich and poor got wider. The poor were oppressed and exploited just as they were in other countries. God’s law was ignored. In spite of the fact that it was understood that there would always be poor people, (See Deuteronomy 15:11 and Matthew 26:11) there were regulations aimed at preventing poverty and restoring equality in ancient Israel.

1. Anyone who had been sold into slavery was to go free after six years. (See Deuteronomy 15:12-18).
2. Interest was not to be charged of the poor. (See Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:36).
3. The poor were permitted to glean the fields and vineyards. (See Leviticus 19:9, 10).
4. The fruit of the fallow ground during the sabbatical year went to the poor. (See Exodus 23:11).
5. In a sabbatical year debts were cancelled in order to eliminate poverty. (See Deuteronomy 15:1, 4).
6. The tithe of the third year was for the various types of poor people. (See Deuteronomy 14:28, 29).
7. The poor could satisfy their hunger in vineyards or grain yards. (See Deuteronomy 23:25 and Luke 6:1).

The Old Testament prophets spoke up for the poor and oppressed. They demanded care for the poor as part of true religion. See Isaiah 58:6-10 and 1 Kings 21 (Naboth’s Vineyard).

3. The poor in the New Testament

Many were poor as a result of the heavy taxes imposed by Rome.

• Jesus in Poverty (See Philippians 2:6-8) “Though Christ was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor” See 2 Corinthians 8:9. He was:-

1. Born in a borrowed stable. See Luke 2:7.
2. Laid in a borrowed manger. See Luke 2:7, 12.
3. Used as His pulpit a borrowed boat. See Mark 4:1.
4. Fed thousands with a borrowed lunch. See John 6:9-11.
5. Taught from a borrowed book. See Luke 4:16, 17. Slept in a borrowed bed. See Luke 9:58.
6. Rode as king on a borrowed donkey. See Matthew 21:2, 3.
7. Observed the Last Supper in a borrowed room. See Matthew 26:18.
8. Mocked as king in a borrowed robe. See Matthew 27:27-31.
9. Buried in a borrowed tomb. See Matthew 27:59, 60.

• Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (See Luke 16:19-31).
• Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (See Matthew 25:31-46).
• Christians in the early church needed to be persuaded that they really did have to do something for the poor! See James 2:1-19 & 1 John 3:17-18

4. Why is there poverty today?

There are a number of reasons:-

• Rich North, poor South

1. 25 % of the world’s population live in the North, but have 80% of the world’s money.
2. Southern countries owe huge debts to Northern banks.
3. 50% of the people in the South have the chance of formal education.
4. Life expectancy in the North averages 70 years. In the South it is 50 years.
5. 25 % of the people in the South will be hungry at any given time.
6. Cash cropping. Crops are grown for money rather than for feeding people. E.g. Tobacco, tea, coffee, etc.

• The cold war – capitalist and communist ‘blocs’

1. Attention has not been focused on world poverty.
2. Huge amounts of money have been spent on arms which could have been used to relieve poverty.
3. Rich countries have supplied aid to the poor countries (mostly in the form of weapons) to get them on their side in the cold war.
4. When wars have happened there have been large numbers of refugees adding to all the other problems. War also leads to famine.

• Population explosion

1. Large families are often required BECAUSE they are so poor. A family requires labour to work their land. Most farming machinery is too expensive. To pay for manual labour is too expensive. So you have children. As there is a good chance some of your children will die before growing up, you have a number of them to make sure things will be all right.
2. Lack of birth control education.
3. The countries with the most people per square mile are in the North, not the South.
4. Despite the increase in the world’s population there is still enough food produced to feed everyone adequately.

• Inadequate aid

1. Help for the developing nations was largely a matter of sending money or food to keep people alive during emergencies.
2. This does not provide lasting aid. Providing more permanent aid requires assistance to help develop agriculture, better fertilizers and irrigation, crop storage, diversity of crops, water supply and banking.

Poverty has always been with us and it shows no sign of going away today. In Revelation 21:4 it is implied that Heaven will not suffer from poverty so the future is good for those who trust in Christ and are patient.

Categories: Matthew