Are We Not All Beggars?

Today, I listened to a speaker in church, express something that had just happened to me a few minutes before. He said, "Have you ever been reading in the scriptures, and stopped and thought to yourself: Wow! did they change that since the last time I read that...and underlined it in red?" I felt startled. I had just experienced the same feeling a few minutes earlier while reading a familiar and beloved passage. This time it seemed to speak a different message to me.

Mosiah 4:16-23 has always spoken very vividly to me. It so strongly tells us that we are not to judge one another, but to simply help one another. But today, another thought crossed my mind as I reread this chapter. Perhaps there is more than just physical succor being referenced here.

In verse 16 it says, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor;....you will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

 What if the petition is for kindness, or forgiveness? What if it isn't simply food or shelter?

It goes on: perhaps thou shalt say: this man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just---

Maybe the person who is petitioning you doesn't need something like food, but they need your spiritual power, your faith? Maybe they have "brought upon" themselves their misery, but now they need you to forgive and to invite them into the shelter of your testimony and your knowledge of the love of God for all mankind?

In verse 19, it goes on: for behold are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

What could make our lives richer than our knowledge of our divine heritage? What is more sustaining than the witness of the Holy Ghost that the scriptures are the word of God, that His power is ours to use through our covenants, if we live righteously? 

Verse 20:  And behold, even at this time ye have been calling on his name and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you...

Should we deny those who need our forgiveness, our love and friendship, and our guidance?

Verse 21: Now if God, who...doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, oh then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

My "substance" is not just the physical things of this world that make my life more comfortable. I'm not denying the literal interpretation of these scriptures to give to the poor and the needy. But today, I read something entirely new that I needed to know. My testimony, my faith and my knowledge of the plan of salvation and God's reality is actually my most valuable possession. I need to give freely of my forgiveness, my faith, and my love as well.

Verse 26 concludes: And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you--that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God--I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor ....both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

I'm a beggar, I know. But I'm rich in some ways. I know now what alms I can--and should---give freely from my abundance.