The poor you have always

In the conclusion of discussing Mary anointing his feet (see John 12:1-8), “Then said Jesus, … the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.” Judas condemned the act of Mary as wasteful and neglecting the poor. Jesus knew the heart of Judas and exposed his pretended concern. The facts include: (1) the ointment was expensive and in theory could have been used for the poor, (2) on this occasion Mary displays more spiritual insight than the apostles, (Matthew’s and Mark’s accounts show other apostles were caught up in agreement with Judas) and (3) Judas was stealing from the common treasury.

We will not eradicate poverty. This fact is not an excuse to ignore poverty and the poor – just a heavy dose of realism we must accept. We should operate in the realistic, not in a fantasy world of our own imaginations.

There is plenty of opportunity to help the poor. The import of Jesus chiding Judas is not that we should not help the poor since poverty cannot be eradicated – but that there will always be opportunities to help the poor. The singular, spiritual, and sacrificial act of Mary does not abate our responsibility for and ability to help the poor. Jesus’s death – once for all – does not remove perennial opportunities toward the poor. Deuteronomy 15:11 well makes the point.

All those who claim to care don’t always care. Those who condemn others for not caring enough, may not care at all themselves! As with Judas, the condemnation may be a cover of their own covetousness or other motives unrelated to a true concern for the poor and needy.

One can “anoint Jesus” and still have time to care about the poor – regardless of what Judas says. These are not conflicting duties and one must do at the time “what thy hand findeth to do.” (Compare Ecclesiastes 9:10; Mark 14:8; and 2 Corinthians 8:12.)

 

I do not disagree (though I think the John 12 context is generic and not directly addressing poor Christians, but just poor, regardless). Often in the United States of America people conceive of a “rich church” helping a “poor society,” but often the true church is the true poor. Thomas Kelly captured this thought in his blessed hymn inspired by Zephaniah 3:12:

“Poor and afflicted,” Lord, are thine,
Among the great unfit to shine;
But though the world may think it strange,
They would not with the world exchange.

“Poor and afflicted”—yes, they are;
They’re not exempt from grief and care;
But he who saved them by his blood,
Makes every sorrow yield them good.

“Poor and afflicted”—’tis their lot;
They know it, and they murmur not;
’Twould ill become them to refuse
The state their Master deigned to choose.

“Poor and afflicted”—yet they sing,
For Jesus is their glorious King;
“Through sufferings perfect,” now he reigns,
And shares in all their griefs and pains.

“Poor and afflicted”—but ere long,
They’ll join the bright, celestial throng;
Their sufferings then will reach a close,
And heaven afford them sweet repose.

And while they walk the thorny way,
They’re often heard to sigh and say—
“Dear Saviour, come; O quickly come!
And take thy mourning pilgrims home.”