Proverbs 19:17 says he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again.
God did not create anyone to be poor or unimportant. He definitely did
not create anyone to be invisible or be a ‘nobody’ (a person of no
importance or authority). There are several reasons why people end up as
nobody. It could be by virtue of circumstances at birth. The crippled
man in Acts 3:1-8 became a beggar because he was born with weak ankle
and limbs and his parents were poor. The only way to get money to feed
was to beg. Naaman in 2 Kings 5:1-16, was a highly respected and
celebrated general but because he was a leper he was confined to leper’s
colony. A high ranking general became unimportant because of leprosy.
No one reckoned with him because he was not fit to leave in the
community. Because of life challenges a very wealthy woman became poor
and lonely, Mark 5:25-34. The physicians knew medical science could not
solve her problem so they resulted to use her as a cash cow, and before
you know it, she exhausted all her resources; poverty crept in. At times
barrenness can make the favorite wife consider suicide, 1 Samuel 1:1-8.
Despite the fact that Elkanah loved Hannah, Peninah her rival made it a
point of duty to reduce her to tears daily because she had no child.
Also the enemy through their evil schemes can cause the favorite child
to become a slave in a foreign land. If you disagree with me, please
read the story of Joseph, Genesis 37:1-36.
How does God treat
these people- unimportant/poor/ disadvantaged? He treats them with love.
Proverbs 19:17 says he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the
Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again. Actually He
sent Jesus just because of them. Mark 2:17 says on hearing this, Jesus
said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I
have not come to call the righteous, but sinners”. When the poor,
disadvantaged, sinners came to Jesus, He treated them with love. When a
man comes to Jesus with his heads bowed, he leaves the presence of Jesus
with his shoulders held high. When they come to Him feeling invisible,
they left with a feeling of importance. The question is when people come
to us with their heads bowed, how do they leave – confident or worse?
How do we treat the beggar that asks us for a dime? How do we treat the
gateman, school janitor, and the homeless on the streets - like humans
or leave them feeling suicidal? How do you refer to people that are
below you? Jesus who was the savior of the world referred to the woman
with the issue of blood (an unimportant woman) as daughter, Mark 5:34.
How do we treat those that are not as intelligent, confidence, rich,
opportuned or as comfortable as us?
ACTION POINT: During this seasons remember the needy in your prayers. Also let the love of God radiate from you to them.
