“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open handed toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land” – Deuteronomy 15:11 (NIV)
All around us we often witness castles raised by those with means to enjoy for their personal comfort. Where these are the fruit of one‘s labor we must praise God for these blessings. “For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain” and “The worker deserves his wage” (1 Timothy 5:18).
It’s a different matter though where these castles are all a result of looting public treasury leaving hardly any resources left to take care of the needs of the less fortunate. Perhaps it is income generated after extorting bribes causing costs of services like healthcare to rise. Maybe it is exploiting workers with poor pay, so that one can enjoy greater profits to go out and live in some paradise. Sometimes this wealth is by illegally seizing property of the weak.
While the results may seem obvious with one raising glorious towers for personal benefit the Lord is also concerned about the means. “Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy…Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because there are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise they may cry to the Lord, and you will be guilty of sin” (Deuteronomy 24: 14-15).
Exploiting the poor and the weak for personal enrichment displeases God. “Do not exploit the poor because there are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case, and exert life for life” (Proverbs 22:22-23). Indeed we are ever reminded that rich and poor are all the same in the eyes of God. “Rich and poor have this in common. The Lord is the maker of them all” (Proverbs 22: 2).
Life as it is there will always be rich and poor; and the rich often have power and means to make or break the lives of the poor who largely depend on them. But God is cautioning the rich to exercise their power with prudence. “Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity and the rod they wield with fury will be broken” (Proverbs 22:8). Rather, those who are blessed should be generous. “The generous will themselves be blessed for they share their food with the poor” (Proverbs 22:9).
Today, God is calling us not to despise or load it on the poor, but go out and share His blessings with them. He shall bless us even more.
Prayer for today: Lord God Father of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today just as I am thankful for all the blessings in my life, with your Spirit let me remember the needy and less comfortable around me, to bless them as you enable, this I pray in Jesus’s name!
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03/05/2024 - 04/05/2024 All day“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Every now and then one could be gripped with fear because of certain events sweeping before one’s life journey. It could be the finances that are stretched and incomes are no longer certain. Perhaps it is one’s job under threat. Perhaps it is a dreaded health report card. There could be fear about outcome of a matter under judgment and what it might mean to one’s future.
Fear has been elsewhere described as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.” Every life will experience fear at one point. Whenever we are faced with fear it is natural to look for something to grasp on. Sometimes we run for shelter wherever we can find. Perhaps we might seek out a friend for quiet confidence.
But there are those situations when there is no shelter in sight. There are also those cases where those we thought would understand our situation once we share our pain return only hurting and critical feedback. In such moments we might then turn and look within ourselves only to find the energy has all been sapped by this gnawing fear. We feel down and the urge to rise and move on all gone!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10) the word of God through prophet Isaiah assures us. But why? It is because the Lord has been there. He himself was faced with fear before his crucifixion but He looked to God.
Charles Spurgeon once wrote when faced with fear always remember, “Nothing is too hard for Him. He can find a way where there is no way. He can give us the idea that will make all the difference.” Psalm 91:2, says, “I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!” So, when faced with fear, look to God to strengthen you. By looking to Him, the Lord will encourage and lift up your spirit, and make a way out of nowhere!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I surrender to you any fear that is in me for I know by looking up to you, you will always make a way out of nowhere, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
