What Does Jesus Say About Homelessness?

Patch.com did a wonderful service for Venice readers in reposting "What does the
Bible say about homelessness?"

The Bible teaches many things, but the Central theme of the Bible is not ourselves, not wealth or poverty, and not just God, but Jesus Christ! He demonstrated this to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus:

“And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the
scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 23: 27)

"Himself" is more than some fictional character, more than some moral hero, but God made flesh. More about Himself:

"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

“For by him were  all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and  invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or  powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (Colossians 1:
15-17)

Jesus Christ Himself is the very Person who holds this Universe together. He is now seated at the right hand of the Father, ministering righteousness and
justification to all mankind. Yet this Person is completely committed to living and moving and having His being within every one of us! All you have to do is . . .believe:

"Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent." (John 6: 29)

Unfortunately, we spend way too much time focusing on ourselves and our circumstances. Yet the righteousness, the complete justification which we crave we find in Him. "Righteousness" means that we are totally OK with God, that there is no more enmity between Him and us!

Here's the Good News: Your sin debt has been paid! You need not carry any shame, for all of yours sins are paid for in Christ.

I am convinced that many people are poor and down-and-out because they think that they deserve it. They live in a world that either shames them for their poverty, or worse pities them. Whatever harm they have done, whatever sins they have committed, all their sins are forgiven in Christ, and in Christ they never need sense that they are alone and without hope!

"But God so loved the World, that He gave His Son, that whosoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

This same God is all about prospering us, too:

“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that
without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

“Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.” (Romans 1: 9-10)

Paul’s first prayer was about. . .prospering!

One of the last prayers in the New Testament prays for the same thing:

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” (3 John 2)

Homelessness is a curse in this fallen world, one that Jesus Christ died to expunge from our lives, for He died on the Cross taking our curse (Galatians 3: 13)!

No one breaks free from bondage through shame. It is evil to shame people for being poor or homeless. Tell them the Good News: through Christ all their sins are forgiven. His life will enter into them, and by His Spirit He will cause everyone to prosper and be in health! Food and drink are good, but nothing will cause a man or woman to prosper like knowing the Truth that sets them free! (John 8: 32)

The more that we are established in His righteousness, then every other need in our lives will be taken care of through Him (Matthew 6: 33)

Some have commented that Jesus was homeless and poor. While Jesus walked on the earth going about healing and doing good (Acts 10: 38), he did say:

"Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have  nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay (Greek -- klino) his head." (Luke 9: 58)

This changed when He died on the Cross, ending the enmity between us and God through His death:

"When Jesus therefore  had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed ("Greek -- klino) his head, and gave up the ghost." (John 19: 30)

When Jesus finished the Work, dying on the Cross to give us His Life, he finally laid his head! Today, He is at rest, seated at the right hand of the Father, and if you believe that He has put away all of your sins, you can receive His life and standing in Him, never to be homeless again!