“Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.” Proverbs 28:27
Devotional Thought For The Day
We have frequently been reminded from the Word of God, from the Bible, that God blesses us not only for the purpose of providing for our needs but also with abundance so that we can “give to the poor.” Way back in the Pentateuch, the first written recording of the Word of God, we read: “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.” [Deut. 15:7,8] “Lending” to others is considered an act of “giving,” and God considers it as having been done to Him personally. You remember the proverb: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his deed.” [Prov. 19:17] This was emphasized by Jesus when He spoke of the pronouncements to be made on the Last Day: “The King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. . . . Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.'” [Matt. 25:40,45] There were strict instructions barring usury when lending to the poor, and we should not overlook or discount the promise that “He [the Lord] will repay him for his deeds.”
We do not give sufficient consideration to the matter of “hiding” our eyes to the needs of the poor, that is “hardening our heart” and “shutting our hand AGAINST our poor neighbor.” It is true that we are privileged with much greater awareness of the poor among us, and that poverty and need is a relative thing. We are also aware that our “neighbors” in other parts of the world are even more destitute and desperate than the poorest people living in America. However, it is also true that we can and do “hide” ourselves from the needs of the poor around us by moving to the suburbs, or quickly turning the channel on the television when dire conditions are being reported, or by skipping the potluck presentation by the missionary after worship, or tuning out the preacher’s warnings from God’s Word. Yes, you can quickly click the “delete” on this devotion and trouble yourself no further. However, God’s Word describes all of these actions as being AGAINST the poor, and whatever we do or do not do in regard to the poor, the Lord receives as having been done to Him. “Out of sight, out of mind” doesn’t cut it with the Lord, in regard to the privilege and obligation to love that He has given us. Our proverb couldn’t assert this reality more forcefully: “he who hides his eyes shall get many a curse.”
Of course, repentance is surely an option, and the most appropriate and blessed option. “If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Repentance, however, is accompanied by its own appropriate fruits – as John the Baptist emphasized to his hearers. [Matt. 3:7-10] It includes a change of heart and mind in regard to what we are repenting, that we cannot remain as we were but have now been reoriented and recommitted to a different course of action. In the case of that hardness of heart that shuts our eyes to the plight of the poor, this means growing in compassion, care, and love, and actually opening our eyes and our hands to give to the poor. This will inevitably follow repentance and absolution, the assurance of God’s gracious forgiveness, mercy, and love toward us. If we consider that this is how God gives to us in our spiritual poverty of sin and guilt, we will be moved to do what we can to “give” the less important material things of this world – out of our excess, to those in desperate need. It is said that “charity begins at home,” and surely the poor in close proximity are our highest responsibility. However, as we are able [and we are], charity should also extend to those with the greatest needs, and these are people living in other areas of the planet.
We are promised that as we live compassionately and charitably we shall “not suffer want.” In fact, God has promised to repay us – with blessings in this life, and unimaginably wonderful blessings in the life which is to come, the kingdom which God has prepared for us from the foundation of the world. [Matt. 25:34] That is something to contemplate, that our purpose in life, the nature of our life as children of God, and our eternal glorious destiny has been fixed by God from before creation. By His gracious mercy and forgiveness, we are kept on this path, and by faith in His love we are strengthened in our purpose and nature to fulfill His will that we love even as He has loved us. Obviously, this is completely contrary to the ways and wisdom of this fallen world of darkness. But God’s Word describes us as “lights shining in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.” [Phil. 2:15] As we contemplate these things the wisdom and logic becomes overwhelming. May God grant that His will be done in us and by us.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, forgive us for focusing on our accumulation of things and assets and closing our eyes to the needs of the poor around us. Break the power that worldly ways have upon our hearts and minds. Extract us from the crooked and twisted ways of this generation, and by the brilliance and power of Your love make us to shine like lights. Keep us focused on the kingdom which You have prepared for us, and give us great joy in serving You by serving those around us. Amen.