May grace and peace be multiplied to you!
Who are the poor in the country and who is responsible for them?
Have you ever thought about that?
Today, a great emphasis is placed on fulfilling the Word: Matthew 28:18-20 talks about discipleship, making disciples, planting churches, missions, etc… All of these and many others are on the agenda of many, and they are sought after with ardor and spirit of sacrifice to accomplish them.
No less important is the care for the poor.
Regarding them, Jesus says, "you always have the poor with you". This may seem to some that they are destined to be and remain poor continuously.
Is this a curse?
I wouldn't say so because there are some things about this category of people that, viewed from the perspective of Holy Scripture, are attached to great blessings!
For example, in the prophecy about the Messiah, Isaiah emphasizes that the work of salvation consists of preaching "the Gospel to the poor" (Isaiah 60:1-2). Even the Lord Jesus himself, in Luke 4:18-19, attributes and quotes it as His mission.
Psalm 69:33 says, "The Lord hears the poor," and in Proverbs 19:17, it says, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord."
In fact, in the commissioning and sending of Paul and Barnabas, when they were given the right hand of fellowship, they were also given the responsibility to remember the poor, which the Apostle Paul says, "I have also done."
In the book of Deuteronomy 15:1-11, Moses says, "There will always be poor people in the land; therefore, I command you to be open-handed toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land."
In short, I understand that this category is among those that God Himself is directly interested in and that those who fear the Lord and obey Him should be concerned about their care.
The PIEI missionaries in Romania do not forget this aspect and include their brothers and "non-brothers" in their work, that is, all their fellow human beings who fall into this category and are within their sphere of service. I add some images that you may have seen, only with the purpose of supporting these statements and encouraging you to have your own poor, to whom you can extend your hand and even lend to the Lord!
Next to them, I also stopped at Marian Asan, a 34-year-old young man accepted by PIEI when they were blessed with the property in Podari.
Taking care of Marian involves offering him accommodation, food, clothes, but more than these, it's about providing him with a home - a place where he can feel appreciated, respected, loved with Christian love, and conditions in which he can strengthen his self-confidence, develop and become capable of taking care of himself in all aspects of life.
He comes from an orphanage, doesn't know his parents, and on top of that, his work possibilities are limited. His income is meager compared to the daily costs of living.
It's amazing to see how what the Scripture says about him is fulfilled! The Lord has taken care of him, and I chose to be part of God's care for him.
I can experience the Word that says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." As someone who grew up in an orphanage and was taken care of by many others, I have become able, by God's grace shown to me through my faith in the Lord Jesus, to take care of others! What GRACE!
Have you ever thought about who your poor person is? Who is your neighbor, to whom you can open your hand and choose to be a blessing? If the answer is YES, I am happy for you! You are the person through whom God manifests His love for the needy of your time. Be blessed!
If the answer is NO, and you are alive, "you have two coats, you have a loaf of bread that you can divide into seven, even eight!" Don't miss the opportunity! You can choose to change things and experience a side of happiness that everyone seeks but few encounter - the happiness of giving, not receiving!
I pray for you to be part of the Lord's care for the needy of your time.
Pray for:
Pray for all those who have much less than you do.
Pray that they may hear and know the Gospel through you.
Pray that the Lord may open Marian's heart and receive him in the Lord Jesus.
Pray that PIEI-RO missionaries never forget the poor in their place of service and always have an open hand towards them.
Thank you to all who support this work in Romania, whether through prayer or physical participation in various projects or through finances! Be blessed!
Stinea Timotei - PIEI National Director
