Giving to the poor and needy is something that all Christians do willingly unto the Lord. The moment a person hardens their heart toward a person in need they are also walking in darkness without God in their life. It is sinful to walk right past a homeless person with a sign and do nothing to help them. The very least we should do is offer them some food, water, and even a warm coat during winter. David wrote, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.” (Psalm 41:1,2) The Bible says, “If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.” (Deuteronomy 15:7,8)
God’s Word declares that it is sinful to walk right past a person in need and say, “Oh, I’ll consider helping the homeless next time I see them.” Today is the day we help these people, not tomorrow. The Bible says, “beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” (Deuteronomy 15:9-11) If this message has convicted you of your sins, then get right with God today. No longer deny the poor and needy, but be willing to help them. Amen and amen.
Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I pray that people’s hearts will open up to people in need. My heart breaks each time I see homeless, and others that are poor. To rush in and give them something to drink and some food is the least I can do. I may not have any money to give them, but knowing that they are fed and are warm at night is what I care about most. So God, lead me to more people who are in need. It brightens my day as much as it brightens their day to see someone help them. I can still remember the homeless lady that I took into Walmart to get some mashed potatoes and chicken, along with a drink. Her face lit up when she saw the food, knowing she hadn’t eaten all day. Lord, when I found out that she hadn’t eaten at all for the day, I almost started to cry. Thank You, God, for putting her on my path those few weeks back. I can still remember helping her like it was today. It is my prayer that You put the same burden in every Christian’s heart to help people in need. May we not let any of these wonderful people leave us without being fed, and even clothed. This Is my true desire. I love You, Jesus. Be me with me, God. Amen.
