Go visit the multitude of nursing homes, hospitals, food banks, jails, prisons, homeless shelters, burn units, battered shelters, and the various impoverished or disaster-torn areas in your city.
Continue reading DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS?
“The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools’ (Proverbs 26:7, KJV).
Did you know October 16 was Blog Action Day? Bloggers from around the world have written posts about what inequality means to them. We all have encountered inequity in daily life and now is the time to brainstorm about how to change the injustices. The change must come from within ourselves.
Inequality is Everywhere, so what affects me the most? All around are the handicapped and the athletic, the movers and the sedentary, varying races, the rich and the poor.
“I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not
I searched out” (Job 29:16).
What was wrong with the religion of most Jews under the Old Testament Law? They observed their own traditions and forgot to consider the more important things like judgment, mercy, and faith. They surely ought to have followed such things as tithing, washing of pots and vessels and the offering of sacrifices, but not left the other undone (Matt 23:23).
When the scribes and Pharisees saw Jesus’ disciples eating without washing their hands, they were indignant. After all, the law said that a man was unclean after coming from the market and he should wash himself before eating (Mark 7:1-13). So what is so bad about being a strict adherent of the law? Shouldn’t we obey all that we have been told to do? They claimed to do many good works such as giving large amounts to the temple, but they would not support their own parents in their old age. Even today members of the church should support family and extended family members (1 Tim 5:4- 16). Keep in mind that verse 8 says, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”
But Job went beyond just what was expected of him. He sought out the cause of the fatherless and was father to the poor. When we see helpless children today who are neglected by selfish, ungodly parents, do we seek out their cause? Do we offer to be “˜father”™ (or mother) to those needy children or to the poor? Do we see to it that they have nourishment and sufficient clothing, or do we just talk about how pitiful they are? Sometimes we are deterred from doing good to these children because we know the parents are actually taking advantage of us. But can the child be held responsible? Even if we cannot take them into our homes, we can at least find time to be with them and teach them the things about God that they need to learn. Feeding their souls as well as their bodies and searching out their needs should be our priority. Remember: it isn”™t just children who need a father. Many poor need someone to love and care for them and to protect them like a father would.
By inspiration, King David tells why Solomon was to be great. It was because he would judge the poor in righteousness (stand up for them). Read slowly and carefully Psalms 72:4-17. “He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor” (Psa 72:4). Then after all the blessings are given in verses 5-11, the reason for his greatness is given again in verses 12-14. Finally verse 17 says it again, “His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and men shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed.”
“He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor” (Pro 28:8).
“I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame” (Job 29:15).
Do we seek opportunities to do good to those in need? Are we too busy to take time for the ones who depend upon us most? Good works and kindness toward the handicapped will not be noticed as something great, nor will we be become famous because we do them. Nevertheless, He who sees all will see our hearts and our love toward his poor.
Job said he was eyes to the blind, an exceedingly beautiful expression, whose meaning is obvious. He became their counselor and guide. He also says he was feet to the lame. He assisted them, and became their benefactor””doing for them, in providing support, as much as they would have done for themselves if they had been in sound health. What a beautiful heart Job showed to the needy.
Under the Old Testament Law, men were cursed if they caused the less fortunate to have more trouble than usual (Deut 27:18-19; Lev 19:14). King Solomon wrote, “Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy” (Pro 31:9). The Holy Spirit through the writer of Hebrews says, “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed” (Heb 12:12-13).
Jesus is the supreme example of compassion and mercy for the deaf, blind, lame and the poor who came to him for healing (Mat 15:30-31; Mat 21:14; Luke 7:22). One such account is found in John 9:1-7. The tradition of the people then (as in Job”™s time) was that someone had to have committed a sin for that man to have been born blind. Jesus said it was not so and that neither that man nor his parents sinned to cause such a handicap. It was that the works of God might be made manifest in him.
Even today the lame, deaf mute and blind people are despised, and only those who love the Creator of all souls will have mercy on them. Jesus tells us we are to invite these people to our homes when we have a “feast,” knowing they cannot invite us again (Luke 14:13-14). We, as His servants, ought to show our love and compassion by being eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt 5:7).
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment” (James 2:13).
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