July 9, 2014
It’s how we handle hardship. Someone loses their job, or takes a drastic pay cut. Medical benefits are reduced or cut. Unexpected bills pile up. There are specific directives as to what we do when adverse circumstances come into the lives of our own.
"Now in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter, then you are to sustain him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Do not take usurious interest from him, but revere your God, that your countryman may live with you. You shall not give him your silver at interest, nor your food for gain. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.” (Leviticus 25.35-38)
No one is immune to the hardships of economic downturn. Whether the result of unwise decisions, or unexpected circumstances, most of us will find ourselves in need of benevolence sometime during our lives. And, in the body of Christ, we take care of our own. Our “countryman” is our brother and sister in need, and it is our priority to “sustain him” through our resources, without charging interest, or exploiting him.
The early church made this a radical priority: “all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need” (Acts 2.44-45) A part of the bond these believers had with each other was material as well as spiritual.
Talk is cheap, as they say. “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2.15-16) Well-meaning, empty words do nothing for real needs. True compassion moves to action with resources available to us.
The basis for God’s call to benevolence on the part of the children of Israel was His gracious deliverance from their captivity in Egypt. Grateful people “pay it forward”. Thus, we are called to actively seek to be generous and merciful as we have received mercy (Matthew 5.7). May our Father look upon us with favor as He sees a people exhibiting generosity in response to His grace.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
"Now in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter, then you are to sustain him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you. Do not take usurious interest from him, but revere your God, that your countryman may live with you. You shall not give him your silver at interest, nor your food for gain. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God.” (Leviticus 25.35-38)
No one is immune to the hardships of economic downturn. Whether the result of unwise decisions, or unexpected circumstances, most of us will find ourselves in need of benevolence sometime during our lives. And, in the body of Christ, we take care of our own. Our “countryman” is our brother and sister in need, and it is our priority to “sustain him” through our resources, without charging interest, or exploiting him.
The early church made this a radical priority: “all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need” (Acts 2.44-45) A part of the bond these believers had with each other was material as well as spiritual.
Talk is cheap, as they say. “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?” (James 2.15-16) Well-meaning, empty words do nothing for real needs. True compassion moves to action with resources available to us.
The basis for God’s call to benevolence on the part of the children of Israel was His gracious deliverance from their captivity in Egypt. Grateful people “pay it forward”. Thus, we are called to actively seek to be generous and merciful as we have received mercy (Matthew 5.7). May our Father look upon us with favor as He sees a people exhibiting generosity in response to His grace.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2014
Be sure to also visit http://thetruthrevolution.wordpress.com/
Amazon ebook & print devotional -http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FQ1Q9GW
paperback print copy of book — https://www.createspace.com/4500045
posted by steve @ 7:06 AM
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