READ: Proverbs 14:31, 17:5, 21:13, 22:22-23, 29:7, 29:14
In the last
devotional, we looked at God’s passion for justice. A huge aspect of this
justice is how we personally treat those who are poor. Proverbs has many
statements, commands and warnings about this matter. Who are the poor? We often
think of those who lack food, health, clothing or shelter. However, the poor
can also include the lonely. Mother Teresa, after years of ministering to the
sick and poor, called loneliness the greatest disease.
Will we help the
poor? Proverbs declares, “whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will
himself call out and not be answered” (21:13). Sometimes we don’t see (or hear)
the poor because we don’t want to be bothered. This won’t be a valid excuse
when we stand before God one day. We must wrestle with our obligations, out of
love for God and others. Even those who are “across the world” are our concern.
The early church helped those who lived on the other side of the known world
and we too must prayerfully consider what we can do as well.
On the other side of helping the poor are two
behaviours that we must steer clear of intentionally. One is to not enjoy or
look down on the struggles of the poor. If we’re honest, it can be easy to do
this . . . If we can always blame their poverty on their actions, then we can
release ourselves responsibility. Proverbs addresses this sinful attitude with
very direct words, “whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at
calamity will not go unpunished” (17:5).
Second, we must seek to, “. . . not rob the
poor because he is poor . . .” (22:22) Business owners, land owners,
salespeople – these groups have to be especially careful that their practices
do not heap additional oppression on the poor. It is the job of all of us to
very deliberately check our lives for such behaviour. Why? Because how we treat
the poor really matters!
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1.
Spend
some time in prayer and reflection, asking God if you’ve ever mocked or blamed
the poor OR taken advantage of them in any way. Repent of these actions and ask
if there are any steps to take in making things right.
2.
Ask
God to show you how in your sin, you were destitute and without hope. Ask God
to also show you the riches of what God has done for you.
