“If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord—
and he will repay you!” (Proverbs 19:17 NLT).
This is an astounding proverb! God willingly makes Himself a debtor to the one who is kind and generous to the poor. Someone may hesitate to give to a poor person, but who would not lend to the Lord? Surely the One who owns the cattle on a thousand hills is able to repay and that with interest!
Remember the words of Jesus? He said, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me” (Matt. 25:35-36).
And when the righteous asked when they had done these things for Him, He answered, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt. 25:40).
Do you have a heart of kindness for those in need? And not only a heart, but hands that are ready to give? Are you kind and generous to the poor?
PRAYER: Dear Father, You are amazing to us. For we were impoverished under a debt of sin, but You sent Jesus to redeem us and pay our sin debt in full. He cried from the cross, “It is finished!” Which means paid in full! Thank you, Lord! Now enable us to show compassion and generosity to those that are still in poverty. In Jesus’ name, amen.