“For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.'”
Deuteronomy 15:11
We would all love to eliminate poverty. In verse 4 of this chapter, God promises that when the nation lives according to His commandments He will bless that nation so that “there will be no poor among you,” and it’s true; even the poor among us, when we live by God’s commands, are better off than the poor in other countries -rich by comparison!
But here, just a few verses later, He tells us, “there will never cease to be poor in the land,” and that we are to provide generously for them.
The way to help people living in poverty isn’t to get cranky and tell them to go get a job or complain about their poor planning and financial irresponsibility. The causes of poverty are many and much more complicated than such simple bumper-sticker solutions seem to imply, and the Lord Jesus said, “the poor You will always have with you…”
For whatever reason, the problem of material need is never going to go away. Instead, it’s an opportunity for us as children of God through faith in Christ, to show love, compassion and care for those who find themselves living in it.
“…the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”
Romans 12:8
We have the glorious opportunity, by God’s faithful provision, to be cheerfully generous toward those who need help. God will be glorified by it and hearts drawn to Jesus because of it.
Lord Jesus, show me how and where and to whom You would have me show Your kindness today. Give me a heart of cheerful generosity, so that Your character is seen in me. Thank You for your abundant provision of all my needs. Amen!
Pastor Dan Giles