Have I closed my ear to the poor?
Why are we not more upset about the injustices perpetrated against the poor in our world? Let me make that question a little less comfortable; why am I not upset about the injustices perpetrated against the poor in our world? I’m not crying out for a socialist state. I’m not saying that everyone reading this must sell every scrap that they own and give it to the poor (though it might not be a bad idea…). I am saying I don’t think we’re getting it right!
Maybe it would help for me to think about what God thought about the situation:
“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the LORD;
“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” ~Psalm 12:5
and again:
The LORD will enter into judgment
with the elders and princes of his people:
“It is you who have devoured the vineyard,
the spoil of the poor is in your houses.
What do you mean by crushing my people,
by grinding the face of the poor?” ~Isaiah 3:14-15
It seems to me that God is not too happy with people mistreating others just because they can’t defend themselves. But you say, ‘I don’t mistreat anyone, God is talking to rulers that hurt other people, I don’t do that.’ Well, unfortunately for you and me, God doesn’t let us off that easy. He tells us in Proverbs 21:13
‘Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered.’
When we participate in an economy that is predicated on hurting people, God is not pleased. When we silently stand aside and watch the defenseless abused, God is not likely to defend us. Consider that God sent His son, Jesus, as a Savior to those that could not help themselves. That same Jesus asked us to follow Him and His example, yet we do little to care for those that have nothing.
Is anybody else worried that one day God is going to say to us, ‘Yes, you were good to study my Word and spend time with the brethren, but what were you doing to care for the weak and needy? Why didn’t you clothe the naked and feed the hungry? Why did you do nothing?’ I hope God doesn’t tell me that He can’t see the face of His Son in me, because I was too self-centered to look out for the needs of others!
Please, don’t begin to immediately come up with reasons to get out of your responsibility before God! Please, don’t beat your breast and say, ‘Yes, I need to do better!’ then walk away and do nothing! Please, look for opportunities to make a difference, and show the world that you are a child of God, and that means that you will not tolerate abuse and neglect of the helpless! Maybe in our next installment we can talk about what can be done.
Christ christian culture poverty selfishnessDon't forget to subscribe to my full RSS feed to get daily updates of this blog!
Have I closed my ear to the poor? | Simple Life In Christ
Blog examining a Christian’s responsibility to the poor, and God’s views on helping the helpless.
Great Post Ed.
http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/index.php Neat org, I thought.
When I was growing up I remember being discouraged from being compassionate to the poor. It was just, ” those people should get a job”, “if you give them money, they’ll just buy drugs”. I don’t think that anymore. When I worked downtown, I saw a lot of homeless people. Some were high, some weren’t. Some were just old ladies who didn’t have anybody. I once saw a police officer escort an elderly woman to a Pizza Hut, and he bought her some lunch. I remember being really touched by that. Undoubtedly he wouldn’t even be considered a Christian by a whole lot of people I know because he probably wasn’t a member of a church with the right kind of sign on the door. However, his “fruits” were apparent to everyone in that Pizza Hut, and that’s how we are supposed to know the saved. Maybe “we’re” the ones saying Lord, Lord.
Great post.
I couldn’t agree more…I was homeless for a year and a half after I was hospitalized, and diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.
I haven’t been able to find a church home since that all happened. My unstable emotions, poor health, and lack of resources prevented me from being able to get myself out of bed; let alone to the house of God.
I’ve been lost in the cracks for many years; but the good news is that Jesus has healed me. He has restored not only my body; but he has healed my mind and given me a new way of thinking!
I function at a much slower pace than I did previously, but that has been a positive step!
Your passion for the poor warms my heart, and I would like you to consider joining me at my Squidoo Group that is the focus of these very topics.
My goal is to use the group as a hub for everyone to come together, and learn HOW we CAN make a difference for the poor in America; so we in turn, can make a difference to the poor in the rest of the world!
God Bless You,
Connie Walcott…aka God’s Grace Notes