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by Kevin Pauley
"If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the LORD your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has. Be careful that there isn't this wicked thought in your heart, 'The seventh year, the year of canceling debts, is near,' and you are stingy toward your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty. Give to him, and don't have a stingy heart when you give, and because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do. For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, 'You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.'” – Deuteronomy 15:7-11 HCSB
Often greed is the underlying reason for our choice to ignore the social injustice of poverty.[1] God warns us that there will be serious, personal and societal consequences if we choose to look the other way[2] and promises substantial rewards for those who choose to care for the poor.[3]
So what should we do? We should first of all seek to be financially independent ourselves.[4] We can be of no help to anyone if we are drowning in debt ourselves. We should take care of our families first and foremost. We are primarily responsible to care for the poor in our own families, secondarily those in our community and thirdly those in the community at large.[5] We are clearly responsible for the community at large. The Good Samaritan was not of the same social or cultural group as the man to whom he rendered aid. Besides, Yahweh expects us to relieve the poor – even when they are our enemies!
We should determine in our hearts to not take advantage of the poor. We should not make money off of their weakness. We should not oppress them out of a “that’s just good business” philosophy.[6]
We should not merely be intellectually engaged in the care for the poor. We should be passionate about it.[7] In Luke, Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their mechanical and legalistic view of charity. They were trying to determine where the loopholes were, what the minimum they had to do was. The Master taught that charity is a matter of the heart. First and foremost, you give of your heart to the poor. If you do, then giving of your finances will not be difficult.
[2] Proverbs 21:13; 22:8-9; 28:8; 28:27
[3] Proverbs 22:9; 28:27; 29:14; Isaiah 58:10-11; Daniel 4:27
[4] 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; Romans 13:7-8
[5] Leviticus 25:25; Deuteronomy 15:2-11 cp 24:12-21; Romans 12:13,19-21; Galatians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 5:8; James 2:15-17
[7] Exodus 22:26-27; Job 30:25; Luke 11:41; 1 Corinthians 13:3
Kevin Pauley is a pastor and writer. He lives in Illinois with his wife, Lynn, their five children and two dogs. His internet address is Berea.
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