“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.” Deuteronomy 15:7

Brother of Poverty

As I live and shop and do business in Redding I frequently see the poor. These are the obvious poor, the ones we would term “homeless,” the transient, the down and out. Some suffer from mental illness. Others are living out the consequences of poor choices. Some were simply caught up in a series of disastrous events beyond their control and find themselves where they never wanted to be. When we look at these weathered faces we do not know what circumstances brought them to this dilemma. It is not our business to judge them.

There exists another layer of poverty. They are the working poor. They are the young trying to establish themselves in a shaky economy and eating Top Ramen every night. They are single mothers who work and see their wages eaten up with childcare, groceries, and rent. Little is left for the extras, the medical emergency, or unexpected car repair. They are always trying to catch up, but fall farther and farther behind.

God has a lot to say about the poor. As the above verse indicates, He expects us to take care of them. It is our business to be generous to the poor. In ancient Israel, believers were to leave the corners of their fields unharvested so that the poor could eat. They were commanded to relieve the poor and in some cases to redeem what was lost for the sake of the needy. They were instructed not to take advantage of their poor brother or enslave him. The same precepts apply to us today because thousands of years later “the poor have not ceased out of the land” (Deuteronomy 15:11).

What does this open handed policy look like today? There are as many ways and means and ministries to the poor as there are reasons and causes for poverty. You know them. The Good News Rescue Mission and Living Hope Compassion Ministries to name a few. I am particularly partial to a ministry within our own church. It is not well known. Funds donated to this benevolence account are used to minister to those within our own church family. It relieves those who worship right alongside us. It assists widows and single mothers and those who run out of paycheck before they run out of month. It provides for our brothers and sisters who have attended and ministered and prayed and trusted God for provision. It is family taking care of family.

Proverbs 19:17 says, “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord and He will reward him for his deed” (ESV). Our giving is a wise investment in the kingdom of God.  Consider the poor. Consider the goodness of God.

Father, there is nothing new under the sun. The poor existed in the days of Jesus and continue to this day. May we learn the lessons of generosity and kindness You have shown us. All of us are vulnerable to financial disaster and need. May we respond to our hurting brothers and sister with wisdom, honor, and grace. In Jesus name, Amen.