SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/15/2013
9:34 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Poor &
Needy PT-2
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Various
Verses in Pr.
Message of the
verses: We will be looking at the
second sub-point from the second main point in the seventh chapter from Dr.
Wiersbe’s commentary on the book of Proverbs in today’s Spiritual diary. We have been looking at the poor and the
needy mostly from the book of Proverbs, and today we will try to conclude this
section.
How do we help the
poor? This is a question that I need
to find the answer to and so this section will be interesting to me. I mentioned in yesterday’s SD that there are
many people out there in this world who do not work because they are too lazy
to and therefore depend upon others to help them when they could work if they
were not so lazy. There are others who
really need help and so we all need to find out how is the best way to discern
between those who really need help and those who are just lazy.
We cannot look down on the poor as if they are second
class people: “He who despises his
neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor (Pr. 14:21).” We know that God looks upon the poor with
special concern and so it is not good for someone to exploit them: “22 ¶
Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Or crush the afflicted at the
gate; 23 For the LORD will plead their
case And take the life of those who rob them Pr. 22:22-23).” “7
"If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of
your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not
harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; 8 but you shall freely open your hand to him,
and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks
(Deu. 15:7-8).”
As believers we should use our influence to make sure
that there are laws that take care of the poor and not exploit them: “The righteous is concerned for the rights of
the poor, The wicked does not understand such concern (Pr. 29:4).” “A poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a
driving rain which leaves no food (Pr. 28:3).”
“Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy’
(Pr. 31:0 NIV).” “If a king judges the
poor with truth, His throne will be established forever (Pr. 29:14).”
When we help the poor we are actually investing with the
Lord and He will se to it that we get our dividends at the proper time. “Of course, we don’t give to others in order
to get something back, because that would be selfish. We must be motivated by love and a desire to
honor the Lord.” (Endnote by Dr.
Wiersbe) “One who is gracious to a poor
man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed (Pr. 19:17).” “There is one who scatters, and yet increases
all the more, And there is one who withholds what is justly due, and yet it
results only in want (Pr. 11:24).” “He
who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor
(Pr.22:9).” Dr. Wiersbe writes “Before
the church helps, however, the family has an obligation to assist their own
needy (1 Tim. 5:4, 8). This leaves the
church free to help those who have no one to share their burdens. If we shut our ears to the cries of the poor,
God will shut His ears to our prayers.” “He who shuts his ear to the cry of the
poor Will also cry himself and not be answered (Pr. 21:13).”
In order to help answer the question I posed at the beginning
of this SD I will quote the following portion of Dr. Wiersbe commentary: “Having pastured three churches, I know some
of the problems congregations can have with ‘con aritsts’ who pose as ‘believers
passing through town who need help.’ In
over forty years of ministry, I recall very few instances when strangers we
helped wrote and thanked us when they got home or repaid the gift. Certainly pastors and deacons must exercise caution
and wisdom lest they do more harm than good, but we must also remember that we’re
helping truly need people for Jesus’ sake (Matt. 25:34-40). Bernard of Clairvaux, composer of ‘Jesus the
Very Thought of Thee,’ gave wise counsel when he said, ‘Justice seeks out the
merits of the case, but pity only regards the need.’ If our Lord dealt with us today only on the
basis of justice where would we be?”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I know that I do
not want to get coned in trying to help someone who is a con artist, but if I
understand what Dr. Wiersbe wrote and quoted I must do my best to help those
who are truly in need and if I help someone who is a con artist then I will
have to leave that to the Lord to deal with them.
My Steps of Faith for Today: I have been wrestling with a number of things
in my mind and one of them is to send some funds to a friend of mine who
ministers and lives in a foreign country.
He plants churches and also has an orphanage where he lives and so I
know that if I send him some funds it will be used of the Lord and be for His
glory. After studying this I believe
that I will make that move.
Memory verses for the week: Psalm 32:1-2
1 How blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the
man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!
Turning Points Wisdom for
today: “Faith: The art of holding on to things your reason
has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.” (C. S. Lewis)
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
God must believe that He is , and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently
seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
2/15/2013 10:34 AM
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