The Last First

Many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

These words of Jesus
Are ignored at our peril.
We are too concerned
With our position in society.
Do we have the best house?
Is our car the latest model?
We tithe
And make sure everyone knows.
People strive to be on television
For any reason.
What is really important?
How we treat the beggar at our door.
How we treat homeless under the bridge.
How we treat the convict in search of work.
How we treat the sick and weak.
How we treat the elderly in nursing homes.
We do not want to leave our comfort zone.
To follow in the Master's steps,
We must.

The Poor and Government

The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established forever.

The words of Proverbs speak of a different age,
But are equally true today.
The government that faithfully judges the poor
Shall endure.
A reminder that God's measure is
How we treat the least among us.
Do we care for the sick,
Or do they languish in crowded emergency rooms?
Do we feed the hungry,
Or do the poorest go to bed in want
Because we fear some will abuse our goodwill?
Do we clothe those in need,
Or worry that we do not have the latest fashion?
Do we visit those in prison
Or ignore the fact that your skin color too often determines
Whether you go to jail or not?
I fear we fall so short of Christ's measure.
We are so afraid that we will not have enough
We will not share our abundance.
Just as Christ shared the loaves and fishes
We can share what we have and
Wonder as it stretches into surplus.

Photo by dogbomb