Remember the poor

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. – Deuteronomy 15.7-8

Among the instructions God gave His people when He led them into the Promised Land was a call to take care of the poor. ‘When you have the poor,’ God said ‘don’t harden your heart, don’t be tight-fisted, but open you hands wide.’

Caring for the poor became the trademark of God’s people. When Isaiah challenged the people about true revival he laid aside religious practices and told them that true heart revival is evidenced not by religion, but by caring for the poor. Jesus set the standard for His people when He preached about taking care of the ‘least of them’ we would prove how much we cared for Him. Through the epistles offerings were taken and used to meet the needs of the poor. We are told to do good to all men. Several times we are simply told to feed the poor. Indeed that is to be our hallmark.

I have wondered why it is such a ‘big deal.’ Of all the things we can do why is this so important? Of all the stuff we could be doing, why is caring for the poor so high on the list?

I think part of the reason it is so big is because giving to others is a true sign of our own faith.  If I can’t trust God to meet my needs I surely am not going to be able to trust God to meet other’s needs through me.

Another reason is that the poor need cared for, and God loves them. Who better than His people to meet those needs? We are, after all, the ones who should be loving with the love of God.

Still another reason is that meeting the needs of the poor is our chance to be a testimony. The world has a hard time arguing when God’s people are loving and giving. Historically, this is what eventually won the leaders of Rome to stop the persecution.

Caring for the poor is our job. It’s too bad we have passed it on to others.