Day 106 Through The Bible
Day 106: A Biblical Call to Bless the Poor
In life, we often face choices regarding managing what we have. The Bible offers a profound principle that reminds us of a key responsibility in our walk with God: what we have is God’s, to be used by God. God provides for those in physical need and calls us to bless others, especially those who are spiritually poor. By looking to God’s Word, we learn how to handle the blessings He has given us materially and spiritually with open hands.
Biblical Principle: God Provides for Those Who Are Poor and in Need
Deuteronomy 15:7-15 offers a striking command from God to the Israelites, revealing His heart for the poor and the needy. This passage teaches us several critical principles about how God views poverty and our role in helping those who are lacking:
God’s Provision for the Poor: In Deuteronomy 15:7, we are told not to harden our hearts or shut our hands from those in need. God commands us to open our hands to the poor and lend and give to meet their needs. This is not just a financial transaction; it’s a response rooted in love and compassion for those suffering.
Blessings Follow Generosity: The Lord promises that if we open our hands to help others, He will bless us in all the works we do (Deuteronomy 15:10). Our generosity leads to God’s abundant provision, not just for our own lives but also to further His kingdom through acts of love and compassion.
Spiritual and Material Poverty: While this passage refers to those in material need, we can also reflect on the deeper, spiritual poverty of the world around us. Just as God provides material blessings, He also offers spiritual blessings—salvation, grace, and eternal life. We are called to share these blessings, not hoard them, with those who are poor in spirit, just as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
A Call to Action: How to Live Out This Principle
The challenge lies in applying this biblical principle in our everyday lives. Here are some practical ways we can live out God’s call to care for the poor and to share His blessings:
Use Your Blessings to Help Others: The Lord has given each of us unique resources—whether financial, time, or talents. Instead of hoarding these blessings, we are called to open our hands wide. This could mean donating to those in need, offering time to volunteer, or using our abilities to support others.
Give Without Grief: Deuteronomy 15:10 says we should give to those in need with a generous heart, not begrudgingly. This calls us to cultivate a heart of compassion that doesn't resent giving but finds joy in blessing others.
Share the Message of Salvation: Just as we are called to meet the physical needs of others, we must also share the spiritual provision we’ve received from God. The gospel is the ultimate gift we can offer to the spiritually poor. We all need a Savior, and it is our privilege to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
Remember God’s Redemption: In Deuteronomy 15:15, the Israelites are reminded that they were once slaves in Egypt and that God redeemed them. In the same way, we are called to remember our spiritual bondage and redemption through Christ. This reminder should inspire gratitude and motivate us to extend the same mercy and grace to others.
The Poor in Spirit: A Call to Evangelize
The Bible speaks about a different kind of poverty—the poverty of spirit. In Matthew 5:3, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This spiritual poverty recognizes our total dependence on God for salvation. When we recognize that we were once poor in spirit and that only through Christ can we be made whole, we are moved to share that same message of hope with others.
Many around us are spiritually poor, unaware of the riches they can find in Christ. Just as we would not neglect a brother or sister in physical need, we should not ignore the spiritual hunger in those around us. Our call is to share the eternal riches of the gospel with those who are poor in spirit.
Conclusion: Open Hands, Open Hearts
As we reflect on the teachings of Deuteronomy 15 and the call to help the poor, let’s remember that everything we have is a gift from God. The blessings we receive are meant to be shared—whether they are material blessings or the gift of salvation. Let’s open our hands wide, give generously, and share the good news of Jesus Christ, remembering that God has richly blessed us so that we can bless others.
By living out this biblical principle, we meet the needs of those around us and experience the joy of partnering with God in His work of redemption and provision.
