Pleasing God

 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:5-6 ESV).

 

Our reading today speaks about the Prophet Enoch having “pleased God.” How can someone’s life be summarized, “as having pleased God”? He pleased the God of the universe so much that he was taken up without suffering death. Twice in Genesis 5, Enoch is described as a man who “walked with God.” Perhaps it’s just the meanderings of my mind’s walk through life, but I believe that taking care of the poor is a large part of pleasing God. Did you know that “the poor” and “poverty” are the most cited topics (other than God) in the Bible? That ought to tell us something about our focus.

 

It’s easy to think of the poor as such a small part of our culture in America that we are doing a superb job of caring for those who are less fortunate than we. Most of us have a distorted view of the poor. We often see helping the poor as doing them a “favor.” Or, worse, we see the poor as people of third-world countries overseas. In fact, we are merely ignoring the pain and suffering at our doorstep. If you look closely at this picture, you’ll see the distinctive skyline of Nashville, Tennessee. Now, if you don’t live near there, don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. It could be repeated in any of scores of cities in our country, some worse than others.

 

So what can we really do? Let me suggest some general things that any of us are able to do. First, pray. That’s not the self-righteous rant of a person who doesn’t know anything else to do. It is the first and most powerful weapon against poverty that we possess. Second, volunteer. There are countless places in our communities that are in desperate need of volunteers in this day. I am well aware of the health challenge that the pandemic presents to volunteer work; however, I am also aware of the measures taken by most community support agencies to allow volunteers to minister in the safest way possible. Third, advocate for the needs of the poor. This means being informed about the places where our taxes, gifts, and donations to the government, non-profit organizations, and churches are allocated. And, don’t stop with being informed. Make your convictions known appropriately. Of course, use the language and actions of peace and grace, but speak on behalf of those who may not be able to do so. And, last, don’t assign blame to the poor, whether justified or not. Share the Gospel with all men, especially those are poor.