50 Years Building His Kingdom - Far Eastern Bible College

in-law of Naomi, had gleaned after they
returned from Moab to the field of Boaz in
Bethlehem. The corners of the field and
the droppings of sheaves of grain in the
field are the portion of the poor and needy.
The rich landlords are responsible for the
poor of the nation.
When the poor pass through the land,
say an orchard of figs, they can pluck the
figs from the trees to eat, but they cannot
carry out anything extra (Deut 23:24,25).
Then there is a law which blesses the
Levites, the poor and strangers, “At the end
of three years thou shalt bring forth all the
tithe of thine increase the same year, and
shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the
Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance
with thee) and the stranger, and the
fatherless, and the widow, which are within
thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be
satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless
thee in all the work of thine hand which
thou doest” (Deut 14:28,29). Thus, even
among the Muslims, they have a practice
of feeding the poor on Hari Raya Haji. In
Malaysia, in a certain village, seven rich
people will buy a cow costing between
$1,600 and $1,800 and have it slaughtered
and distribute the meat to the poor. In Singapore
130 sheep will be imported from
Australia and the meat given to thousands.
Truly the poor are not forgotten in the face
of the Lord.
In the NT we read of the Apostle’s
decree to the Church to remember the poor.
In our work in Cambodia, we have hordes
of poor people who come under our ministry.
To relieve them, Life Church has in
the last two years sent 10 containers of surplus
clothes, sardines, biscuits and baked
beans. In turn Lifers are blessed.
Every year we apportion our Christmas
offerings to needy (especially sick)
members, missionaries and missions. And
when we celebrate our Church anniversary,
we invite all FEBC students and boarders
of Beulah House to dinner. This is in obedience
to our Lord’s command, “But when
thou makest a feast, call the poor. . . And
thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense
thee: for thou shalt be recompensed
at the resurrection of the just” (Luke
14:13,14).
When we do works of charity we are
blessed of the Lord. Suffice it to quote three
verses. “Blessed is he that considereth the
poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of
trouble” (Ps 41:1). “He that giveth unto the
poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his
eyes shall have many a curse” (Prov 28:27).
There is a Chinese proverb akin to this.
Lastly, “He that hath pity upon the poor
lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he
hath given will he pay him again” (Prov
19:17). This blessing is experienced by
those who gave or loaned to Beulah House.
They have not become poorer but richer.
There are several cases of those who loaned
to the Lord; but converted their loans into
gifts, for they were thankful for the abundant
blessings that had come upon them
during the interval.
To take care of one’s aged parents is
all the more incumbent on us (Mark 7:10-
13). But in Jesus’ time there were the
unfilial children who tried to defraud by
declaring “Corban” on their dues to parents,
that the portion owing them is given
to God. Thus, they claim exemption. Now
the dutifulness of children to parents is very
much a part of Chinese ethics. The Jews
and the Chinese have this law in common.
When children are grown up and
well-established they should take care of
their parents. Even when their parents are
well-to-do and do not need their funds, it
is good to show their love to them by taking
them out to dinner once in a while. It is
good as children to bring something nice
to dad and mum, in their remembrance.
By so honouring them, they inherit
long life. Filial children are so blessed, and
so are the rich who exercise responsibility
for their poor brethren.
Are the haves responsible for the
have-nots The rich responsible for the
poor The world has no time to answer this
question, but the Word of God has given
us many lessons that we must learn.
Amen.
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