Give Liberally And Be Ungrudging
If there is among you anyone in need,
a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the LORD
your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your
needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to
meet the need, whatever it may be. Be careful that you do not entertain a mean
thought, thinking, “The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,” and
therefore view your needy neighbor with hostility and give nothing; your
neighbor might cry to the LORD against you, and you would incur guilt. Give
liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the LORD your
God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake. Since there
will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you,
“Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.”
God does not close His eyes to the
plight of the poor. When He gave His people guidelines for loving, He included
instructions on ways to care for the needy. God also commanded His people not
to clean the corners of their fields so that the less
fortunate could gather food. And Jesus showed His compassion for the poor by
His words and actions.
As Christians, we cannot ignore the
plight of the poor today. Individuals and churches can join with Christian
organizations working to combat poverty as they spread the Word. God has a
heart for the poor. Do we?
God gives us
all we need so we can give to those in need.
Our Daily
Bread –