We Are All Beggars

Took me a little bit longer than I expected to get started this morning, partly because I was tired, but partly because I had let my mind wander. I'll keep working of this 8 am thing, and see if I can get the hang of it.

The most emotionally charged part of Elder Holland's October 2014 talk, Are We Not All Beggars? is when he quoted King Benjamin as asking that question, and then listed a few circumstances under which we have all begged something of God.

We can, as King Benjamin taught, cease withholding our means because we see the poor as having brought their misery upon themselves. Perhaps some have created their own difficulties, but don’t the rest of us do exactly the same thing? Isn’t that why this compassionate ruler asks, “Are we not all beggars?” Don’t we all cry out for help and hope and answers to prayers? Don’t we all beg for forgiveness for mistakes we have made and troubles we have caused? Don’t we all implore that grace will compensate for our weaknesses, that mercy will triumph over justice at least in our case? Little wonder that King Benjamin says we obtain a remission of our sins by pleading to God, who compassionately responds, but we retain a remission of our sins by compassionately responding to the poor who plead to us.

It's a lot more moving when he says it than when I copy it.

In answer to his and King Benjamin's question, yes, we are all beggars. All of us have sinned and beg for mercy. I'm reminded of the parable of the two debtors, or was it the unjust servant? Anyhow, one person was forgiven of an enormous amount of debt, but then refused to forgive a much smaller debt that was owed to him. His cries for mercy were heard and answered, but he ignored the cries of another, and his original debt was reinstated.

Elder Holland quoted Proverbs 21: 13, "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard." Let's not let that happen to us. Let us be compassionate and do what we can to serve and bless and give to others. If you need any more incentive, I've heard that God is very generous to those who are generous to others. Surely, you could use a blessing or two. Perhaps God will grant it to you if you make yourself a blessing to others.