Christmas is all about ‘good news to the poor’ (Is 61:1). Not only was Jesus born in a stable, not a palace, but the angels appeared to shepherds, the lowest of the low in terms of jobs in those days. (Luke 2:8-20) We may question why God worked in this way, but the truth is that He cares for those in need, and because of this, we must too.
In the Old Testament, God’s people were urged to be open-handed to the poor and needy (Deut 15:11) and to defend their cause. (Prov 31:9) A knowledge of God was defined as defending the cause of the poor and needy (Jer 22:16) and Amos had much to say in condemnation of those who oppressed the poor and crushed the needy (Amos 4:1). A consequence of a belief in the sanctity of life is that people are not valued according to their wealth, but according to the basic humanity they possess; as imitators of a God who cares for all, we are urged, therefore, to serve the poor as though we were serving Christ Himself. (Matt 25:31-46)
There are many charities which seek to do this, including the Salvation Army and the local food bank we support. Our support for this is vital, but all charitable giving has to be motivated by love and not simply by duty or to be known for our goodness (see 1 Cor 13:1-3; Matt 6:1-4). Maybe Christmas is a good time to investigate other ways of serving the poor and seeking to reach those who may never be considered worthy in worldly terms, but who remain loved by God and valuable in His eyes.