Blessing for Feb. 3rd 2008

Proverbs 22:9
A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

Giving gives great joy. And if the giver gives without expecting anything in return, that’s a great achievement. Jesus once said, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12-14) Of course that’s for those who are capable of giving banquets. But the rest can give according to their generosity, with the scale ranging from 1-100. Even in the Old Testament times God was concerned about the poor and He placed certain laws for helping them.

"Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:10)"

"'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.'" (Leviticus 23:22)

"'If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. (Leviticus 25:35)

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. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

It is God’s will that we be concerned about the poor and help them, so that we "walk the faith" and glorify God.