Proverbs 28:27
Giving to the poor
will keep you from poverty,
but if you close your eyes
to their needs,
everyone will curse you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As
Pope Francis has made his way through several American cities, he has
repeatedly referenced the plight of the poor in our world. Speaking
before a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C., on September
24th, Pope Francis said, “…I would encourage you to keep in mind all
those people around us who are trapped in a cycle of poverty. They too
need to be given hope. The fight against poverty and hunger must be
fought constantly and on many fronts, especially in its causes.” Pope
Francis acknowledged “the spirit of enterprise”…but he noted that it
must be used for the common good.
I’ve watched countless children
play with toys. It’s not unusual to see a child who has more items
than he/she can manipulate and enjoy reach and grab for more…at the
expense of other children who have very few spread before them. Human
nature seems to dictate an urge in many of us to hoard at a very early
age…and the devil “takes that ball and runs with it!”
How can
giving to the poor keep us from poverty? I can almost guarantee that
every person who reads these words has access to more food than he/she
can eat. We would likely never miss half a dozen garments from our
closet…and we surely would not go naked. If we passed up downloading a
couple of songs or apps…or we made a pot of coffee at home and put it an
insulated drink container instead of purchasing a gourmet version at a
coffee shop for $3-5…we could feed several people on the money saved.
We think nothing of paying $50-$300 or more for a ticket to watch a
3-hour football game or attend a 2-hour concert…yet we often cringe at
the thought of “giving up” 50¢ a day to provide water for a thirsty
child – or $10 to buy a mosquito net* to “protect a family and save a
life.”
If we conserve energy, recycle, and pay attention to
greenhouse emissions, we can create an environment that is more
conducive to the growth of plants and animals that will sustain the
world. As Pope Francis has so beautifully expressed, all of our efforts
matter…and they add up in the scheme of things! Too many people want
to say, “Let the other guy do this. It’s not my problem.” In truth,
this is our problem…and not only are we reminded of this by
political and religious leaders of the world…the scripture speaks to
this quite plainly!
We have no excuse. There is something that
each of us can do. There are local charities that need your help. If
you need a place to begin, there are probably more than a few ministries
and missions sponsored by your own church or that of a friend. You can
search online for organizations that champion world hunger, clean
water, adequate health care for children, and more. There are even
websites that will “vet” these charities to tell you which ones spend
the largest share of your contribution(s) on actually helping those in
need.
We cannot put this off any longer. God has called us to be
good stewards of His many blessings…and the time to do so is NOW!
Where – and how - will you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://nothingbutnets.org
Showing posts with label how we treat the poor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label how we treat the poor. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 30, 2012
James 2:5-7
My dear friends, pay attention. God has given a lot of faith to the poor people in this world. He has also promised them a share in his kingdom that he will give to everyone who loves him. You mistreat the poor. But isn’t it the rich who boss you around and drag you off to court? Aren’t they the ones who make fun of your Lord?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day, I dressed Timothy in a really cute outfit – t-shirt, shorts and sweater vest. Soon afterward, he asked for a chocolate cookie. He ate the cookie and promptly wiped his hand on his t-shirt sleeve. We were headed out the door on a long trip, so I didn’t take time to change his shirt. That turned out to be a wise decision. We stopped at a Sonic® for lunch, and he dribbled ketchup on his sweater vest! By the time we had finished with lunch, I looked at him and thought, “My grandmother would say, ‘You look like an orphan!’” I know… this is not a nice statement… but it’s one I bet we have all used at some point… and we didn’t give it a second thought!
I was talking with a friend who is involved in foster care, and we were discussing clothing needs. She said that there is presently a great need for boys’ clothing in all sizes… but she stressed it needed to be nice clothing. I knew instantly what she meant. I remember all too well the less fortunate children who came through my kindergarten class… many of them dirty and disheveled, and most in clothing that was well-worn at best – if not downright tattered. It was one more thing for these precious little souls to deal with. The leaders of our local foster care program get this! They have vowed to make sure the children in their charge at least have decent clothing to wear… and can hopefully avoid ridicule or stereotypes based on their appearance.
Now I ask you… does God love these innocent children any less if they are dirty or unkempt? Absolutely not! Does He care more for the children whose appearance is always perfect… hair neatly trimmed, buttons and bows in place, the name-brand tags and logos clearly visible to let everyone know that someone broke the bank to pay for the outfits? No way! Yet we look at a child who appears poor and needy - or those in foster care - with pity and disdain, while we pat ourselves on the back for being such “good Christians” who support missions in our churches and give to charity.
In essence, many of us don’t really believe that God loves those we assist as much as He loves us! We pity them, toss money (and maybe a little personal attention) their way, and shake our heads. We say, “It’s too bad about So-and-so.” And if we have this attitude toward innocent little children, we are truly capable of anything!
The time has come for us to wake up and recognize that God loves each of us… equally. Many of the poor – financially, intellectually, physically and emotionally, or even spiritually – got there through little or no fault of their own. Life… and even so-called “Christians” beat them down… with ridicule, unfair judgment, and arrogance. We need to start building others up… loving unconditionally… sharing the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with EVERYONE and representing Him 1000% via our daily living, our words, and our actions. I guarantee you, I will think twice before I ever tell another child, “You look like an orphan,” because we start with the smallest of things. The devil can use even this simple phrase to grab hold of our heart and our attitude.
Who among you is “poor” in some manner today? Who needs you to reach out and offer a smile, a kind word, or more? Where do you need an attitude adjustment about God… your relationship with Him… and who else is included in His kingdom? I don’t know if you are one of the rich… or perhaps one who is considered “poor.” But I do know that God loves you AND the other guy… and you can each have equal shares in His kingdom. How are you honoring His gifts of grace and mercy these days? Are you truly operating in Christian faith and love… or are you claiming the name of Christ while you make fun of our LORD? We need to figure it out… and get busy getting this right! Are you in?
©2012 Debbie Robus
My dear friends, pay attention. God has given a lot of faith to the poor people in this world. He has also promised them a share in his kingdom that he will give to everyone who loves him. You mistreat the poor. But isn’t it the rich who boss you around and drag you off to court? Aren’t they the ones who make fun of your Lord?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day, I dressed Timothy in a really cute outfit – t-shirt, shorts and sweater vest. Soon afterward, he asked for a chocolate cookie. He ate the cookie and promptly wiped his hand on his t-shirt sleeve. We were headed out the door on a long trip, so I didn’t take time to change his shirt. That turned out to be a wise decision. We stopped at a Sonic® for lunch, and he dribbled ketchup on his sweater vest! By the time we had finished with lunch, I looked at him and thought, “My grandmother would say, ‘You look like an orphan!’” I know… this is not a nice statement… but it’s one I bet we have all used at some point… and we didn’t give it a second thought!
I was talking with a friend who is involved in foster care, and we were discussing clothing needs. She said that there is presently a great need for boys’ clothing in all sizes… but she stressed it needed to be nice clothing. I knew instantly what she meant. I remember all too well the less fortunate children who came through my kindergarten class… many of them dirty and disheveled, and most in clothing that was well-worn at best – if not downright tattered. It was one more thing for these precious little souls to deal with. The leaders of our local foster care program get this! They have vowed to make sure the children in their charge at least have decent clothing to wear… and can hopefully avoid ridicule or stereotypes based on their appearance.
Now I ask you… does God love these innocent children any less if they are dirty or unkempt? Absolutely not! Does He care more for the children whose appearance is always perfect… hair neatly trimmed, buttons and bows in place, the name-brand tags and logos clearly visible to let everyone know that someone broke the bank to pay for the outfits? No way! Yet we look at a child who appears poor and needy - or those in foster care - with pity and disdain, while we pat ourselves on the back for being such “good Christians” who support missions in our churches and give to charity.
In essence, many of us don’t really believe that God loves those we assist as much as He loves us! We pity them, toss money (and maybe a little personal attention) their way, and shake our heads. We say, “It’s too bad about So-and-so.” And if we have this attitude toward innocent little children, we are truly capable of anything!
The time has come for us to wake up and recognize that God loves each of us… equally. Many of the poor – financially, intellectually, physically and emotionally, or even spiritually – got there through little or no fault of their own. Life… and even so-called “Christians” beat them down… with ridicule, unfair judgment, and arrogance. We need to start building others up… loving unconditionally… sharing the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with EVERYONE and representing Him 1000% via our daily living, our words, and our actions. I guarantee you, I will think twice before I ever tell another child, “You look like an orphan,” because we start with the smallest of things. The devil can use even this simple phrase to grab hold of our heart and our attitude.
Who among you is “poor” in some manner today? Who needs you to reach out and offer a smile, a kind word, or more? Where do you need an attitude adjustment about God… your relationship with Him… and who else is included in His kingdom? I don’t know if you are one of the rich… or perhaps one who is considered “poor.” But I do know that God loves you AND the other guy… and you can each have equal shares in His kingdom. How are you honoring His gifts of grace and mercy these days? Are you truly operating in Christian faith and love… or are you claiming the name of Christ while you make fun of our LORD? We need to figure it out… and get busy getting this right! Are you in?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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