Focus: Proverbs 14:31 - KJV
31. He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
Matthew 25:40-45
Our God is the Lord of liberty. In the Old Testament and even at the time of the Apostles, slavery and oppression was approved under the Jewish tradition. Under the Mosaic tradition, you are permitted to keep a slave for six years and let him go on the sabbath year. In the days of the Apostles, Onesimus was accounted to be Philemon’s slave. The concept of slavery is simply that of property and an owner could do as he pleased with his property. However, God being a Lord of liberty is clear: whatever treatment we give to the poor, we give to God. The simple explanation is that, man, no matter the race, creed or religion, is an image of God. When God looks at him, He expects to see the reflection of Himself. Whenever He looks and sees ugliness, He is not satisfied. Such ugliness arises in two main ways: first, through sin which brings desecration; and the other is through maltreatment by others.
It follows that, whenever we are good to another man, we honor God. But, when we fail to do good to our neighbor, when it is in our power to do it, we actually reproach the Lord. Meanwhile, anyone that honors God is honored himself in return. Those who reproach Him, He lightly esteems. Everything that the rich man had which he denied Lazarus of, he worked for and owned. But in the sight of God, the rich man was actually endowed by God so that he may be kind to the poor. His failure to be kind to Lazarus was simply a reproach unto God. Hence, as it pleased God to put Lazarus into bliss after he passed on, God could not help the situation of the rich man who lived his life on earth reproaching the one who taught him to get wealth in the first place.
Beloved, let it not be that God feels reproached by your actions in not taking care of the poor around you. Incidentally, the population of the poor is growing because of the state of the world today. Hence, there is always someone we can assist if we do care. We do not want the Lord to cause us to be lightly esteemed in any way. We should do all we can never to turn our backs on the poor for any reason, if we can handle it. The Lord does not like to see ugliness on His image or anyone of them at any point in time. It is good that we render ourselves to honor God always, by taking care of the poor. When we do, the Lord honors us in return, for when we give to the poor, we lend to God.
SOLUTION: Never turn your back on the poor; never treat a fellow being with dishonor and contempt, no matter the status. Be determined to honor God in honoring the poor. Set aside resources to do this regularly, if you can.
Please pray: Father, I do not want to reproach you in any way. All that I did in times past that may appear like reproach in my dealing with other men, please forgive, in Jesus’ name. Help me to meet your needs in the poor at all times as you meet my needs also, in Jesus’ name.
If you are blessed by this post, kindly share with your contacts, as well as others, that they may be blessed also. Thank you and may God bless you abundantly as you do so, in Jesus’ name.
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