ODJ: none of my business?
Because of the violence you did to your close relatives in Israel, you will be filled with shame and destroyed forever (v.10). READ: Obadiah 1:10-14 When we first read the book of Obadiah, it’s easy to regard its contents as little more than a prophetic tirade in which God’s wrath is directed toward Israel’s enemies. [...]
Portrait of Our Souls
By Rachel Ang, 21, Singapore The portrait of a beautiful young man sits in an abandoned and dusty corner of a luxurious mansion. As the owner of the picture travels the path of hedonism, denying himself none of his desires for pleasure, the figure on the canvas decays, wrinkles and turns loathsome and hideous. It [...]
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Loading ...ODB: the poor among us
July 13, 2010
READ: Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there is among you a poor man of your brethren . . . you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand. —Deuteronomy 15:7
Francis Chan, in his book Crazy Love, tells of a family with an interesting Christmas tradition. On Christmas morning, the Robynson family doesn’t focus on opening presents under the Christmas tree. Instead, they make pancakes and coffee, and serve the breakfast to the homeless. This is a small but creative way to show God’s love and generosity to the poor.
God expected this kind of generosity from His people. In Deuteronomy 15, Moses emphasized the reality of poverty and how the more affluent must deal with it. They were warned of four dangers:
A hard heart, ignoring the needs of the poor (v.7).
A closed hand, withholding what the poor lacked (v.7).
An evil thought, hesitating or refusing to loan money to the poor because the year of canceling debts was nearing (v.9).
A grudging spirit, a reluctance to satisfy the needs of the poor among them (v.10). Not only were they warned about selfishness, but more important, they were encouraged to be spontaneously generous (vv.8,10,11).
Among God’s people, there must always be a spirit of generosity toward the poor. Let’s open our hearts and our hands. —Marvin Williams
Generosity stems from the heart that has experienced God’s grace.
Source: Our Daily Bread
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