Over the past while I've been writing about the Another Chance street church in our community, and along the way have been thinking about whether, as believers, we ought to leave care of the poor to government agencies, or find ways to reach out to the poor and work with them to try to bring them into wealth (or at least middle class comfort?), or whether we should follow the New Testament church example, and share with and/or sell our stuff, in order to provide for the poor.

Here's part of a really interesting quote from a 1st century believer, that I came across in a blog I read today.

"That we should be considered poor is no disgrace to us, but an honor. A life of luxury weakens the spirit. Frugality makes it strong. And yet, how can anyone be considered poor who does not feel any want, who does not covet what belongs to others, who is rich in God's eyes? Much more should he be considered poor who always craves for more while he already has much...."
(Minicius Felix, 1st century believer)

Why not go to the subversive1 blog, read the rest of Felix' words and story - and share what you think!