Be needy, at least some of the time

Last week a discussion leader asked us to respond to the idea that “God’s heart is found in the poor”.  This question led me down a surprising path.  As I reflected on the Sermon on the Mount, the Good Samaritan, and Matthew 25, it felt clear that we can see Christ reflected in the needy, and that we can grow closer to God with our interactions with the poor.  So that caused me to think, “Am I really being of the greatest service to others if I am never in need, if I am never poor?”  To put it another way, in true Christian community shouldn’t I also at times be the person being served, the person in need who others can have the chance to see Christ through?  Jesus made that clear to his disciples when He washed their feet.  We tend to think of that as an example of how even the great must serve, but there’s an equally important lesson that is drawn out by Peter's initial refusal – we must all be willing to be served as well.  And we can't be truly served if we've already made ourselves completely self-sufficient.  If we have everything we think we need, then can others serve us on equal terms, or are we just play-acting the roles?

The passage that really drives home this question for me is when Jesus gives his disciples instructions for spreading the gospel.  They can’t take supplies.  They can’t take provisions.  They can’t even pay their own board.  They have to go out with nothing but the sandals on their feet and accept the hospitality of the communities they enter in order to do their work of preaching.  They must rely on the service of others, because they have nothing else to turn to – they have made themselves poor for Christ.  Are we willing to go to that same extent, not only to practice our willingness to trust God, but in order to allow others to bless us by letting them serve us in real need?