Our scripture this morning is Proverbs 19:16-17
Those who keep the commandment will live; those who are heedless of their ways will die. Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full.
Keeping God’s commandments has always been important, from the very beginning. God gave us a beautiful world with only a few constraints and when we failed to obey, sin entered the world. This brought a whole flood of problems, including want and need.
This passage tells us “whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.” As if He owes us anything! Everything we have is a gift from God in the first place! However, God blesses our generosity with His generosity that all might know His love.
In Deuteronomy 15:7-8 we read ”do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. You should rather open your hand, willingly lending enough to meet the need, whatever it may be.” Especially during this time that we celebrate God coming to be with us as one of us, let us remember our charge to care for the last, the least and the lost.
Loving Lord, You have blessed us beyond measure. Help us to see the needs in our world and use Your gifts for the good of all Your children. Amen.
