Helping the Poor

TITLE: Helping the Poor
DATE: March 26, 2011

SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 15:11
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”

OBSERVATION: The eradication of poverty is possible. God gives the key to accomplish that goal – 1) cancel all debts every seven years (v.1), and thereby stabilizing asset ownership so no one can accumulate more than their original possessions, and 2) carefully obeying “with care” God’s commands (v.4, 5). If these would be done, poverty would become history. But God is realistic and understanding of human nature. He realize that 1) and 2) will not be carried out and declares that “There will always be poor people in the land.” (15:11) Therefore, those with assets must be generous to those without to assist them. And we need to be “openhanded” or generous to the poor. (v.7-10)

APPLICATION: We are helping Maui’s hungry and poor, but need to go beyond, providing for the poor, and position them for prosperity through education, opportunities and mentorship. Empowering the poor is just as great, or even greater, a need as giving them a helping hand. For me, the eradication of poverty should be a major goal as helping them in their poverty. Our Maui pastors and churches need wisdom to know how to empower the poor in the island to lift them into self-sufficiency.

PRAYER: “Broaden my heart to see needs as You see them and help the poor in the long term as we are in the short term.”