“Remember the poor” was the lone request Peter, James, and John made of Paul as he began his outreach to Gentiles (Galatians 2.10). Paul was quick to add that caring for the poor was “the very thing I was eager to do all along.” This is not empty bravado on Paul’s part. Caring for the poor was essential to gospel teaching and integral to the ministry of the early church. Given that 80% of the Roman Empire lived at or below the subsistence level, the large peasant population was forced to serve the economic interests of a small yet powerful group of wealthy elites. Since regard for the poor had little value in Greco-Roman society, it explains why these early followers of Jesus generated so much attention.
Remembering the poor was a hallmark of Robert Hawker’s (1753-1827) life. His mother wanted him to be a surgeon, as his father and grandfather had been (Robert’s dad died when he was four). He dutifully fulfilled his mother’s wishes, working as a surgeon for six years. Since his real aspiration was the pastorate, he returned to the academy and served as an Anglican priest in a Plymouth, England church for forty-nine years. He was nicknamed the “Star of the West” for his winsome Christ-centered, practical preaching style. His devotional, The Poor Man’s Morning and Evening Devotions was so titled because it was originally published in small “penny” portions to make it affordable for the poor. He wrote to make the gospel accessible and understandable to people with modest education. He followed it with The Poor Man’s Commentary of the Old Testament in four volumes and The Poor Man’s Commentary on the New Testament in six volumes. The devotional character of his biblical commentaries made his writings immensely popular with the laboring class. He established several charitable ministries for the poor in his parish and community. I commend to you something he wrote on his 70th birthday, “I have been learning to get daily out of love with myself and in love with Christ.” Today’s prayer by Robert is longer than most I have posted, but I couldn’t find anything to cut, so savor its words and let it become your prayer today:
Remembering the poor was a hallmark of Robert Hawker’s (1753-1827) life. His mother wanted him to be a surgeon, as his father and grandfather had been (Robert’s dad died when he was four). He dutifully fulfilled his mother’s wishes, working as a surgeon for six years. Since his real aspiration was the pastorate, he returned to the academy and served as an Anglican priest in a Plymouth, England church for forty-nine years. He was nicknamed the “Star of the West” for his winsome Christ-centered, practical preaching style. His devotional, The Poor Man’s Morning and Evening Devotions was so titled because it was originally published in small “penny” portions to make it affordable for the poor. He wrote to make the gospel accessible and understandable to people with modest education. He followed it with The Poor Man’s Commentary of the Old Testament in four volumes and The Poor Man’s Commentary on the New Testament in six volumes. The devotional character of his biblical commentaries made his writings immensely popular with the laboring class. He established several charitable ministries for the poor in his parish and community. I commend to you something he wrote on his 70th birthday, “I have been learning to get daily out of love with myself and in love with Christ.” Today’s prayer by Robert is longer than most I have posted, but I couldn’t find anything to cut, so savor its words and let it become your prayer today: