Guest Post by Jeanette Andrade
Defender of the Poor January 14
Scripture Selection: Psalm 14:6; Prov. 14:21, 31; II Corinthians 8:9
Food for Thought: II Cor. 8:9
God cares so much for the poor that He sent His Son to become poor in order that they could become rich. What an awesome price He paid to stamp out the curse of poverty!
When I look around this world, I see the multitudes that live in utter destitution and oppression. They haven’t gotten the Good News yet that Christ died for them to give them life in abundance and that He intends for them to ascend from “glory to glory” in every aspect of their lives.
That’s where we come in. We’ve been recruited by the Father to share the Gospel with those we encounter in need and to do our very best to alleviate the oppression in which they live until the Kingdom of God is manifested in their lives. Then they, in turn, can do the same for those they meet in the same condition as they were.
The beauty of His plan is that as we sow seed in their lives and improve their conditions, the Word promises to bring us true happiness, as well. It’s a very good investment!
Digging Deeper: ______________________________________________________________
Getting Personal: ______________________________________________________________
Confession of Faith: ______________________________________________________________
Important Events on This Day (birthdays, anniversaries, etc.): ______________________________________________________________
Excellent thought provoking commentary! God doesn’t want people to dwell in poverty.
I should note, being kind to the needy doesn’t entail volunteering other people’s money to them.
Right! It only works when we GIVE out of our own generous heart, not when the money is taken from the “rich” to give to the poor. Just as I wouldn’t take points from my high-achieving students and give them to the lower-achievers to make all the grades even in my classroom.
That’s so unfair to the low achievement students!!!!
God does bless the poor and the hurting, but often in a way human beings would not consider a blessing. When the Japanese tsunami occurred one pastor we were in contact with reported the churches in northern Japan saw such a surge of people they could not fit them in.
He challenges us at times, this can shake us out of complacency and the love of transient things like money and power. In Haiti some churches we pray for have hundreds and even thousands attending each Sunday. Here in Australia we are so comfortable and church attendance is tiny.
Man turns to God in time of need. In times of comfort, he scarcely considers Him.
Indeed. The ‘rich’ man fears and serves God. the ‘poor’ man doesn’t. There’s poor and there’s broke. Sometimes the two go together, but not always. I wonder, sometimes, why people say that Jesus was a socialist. I think these folks have never read the Word, nor asked God to give them understanding. Jesus did not go to Rome and demand said government to give charity to the poor. Jesus talked to individuals from all walks of life and encouraged them to give personally, willingly and gladly.
The socialists don’t understand the distinction between sharing what you have and forced govt wealth confiscation.