“Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker, And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.” Proverbs 17:5 AMP
Before the fall of man, humans enjoyed a life of plenty and without want! It wasn’t a life that lacked responsibility as they were told to “cultivate and Keep it.”
“So the LORD God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it.”
Genesis 2:15 AMP
Work at that point was not burdensome and it produced a good return for them. It was the plan of God that all of those coming in the future would partake of being responsible for their share of the common good. The problem started when sin entered the heart of man! There were no feelings of greed, hatred, discrimination, fear, lust, and things of such nature. Man was satisfied with having what he had. Once sin entered, all of that changed.
The sinful nature now took over and began to produce its fruit in the lives of men, death and destruction! As we have seen in the past, God warned Cain that “sin was lurking at the door” and its desire was to overtake him. He listened not to the warning of God and soon became the first murder recorded in history. From that fateful day until now the endless march of sins power has ruled over man. We can clearly see the results of it today as we look around the world. Billions of dollars spent in Latin and Central America, Africa, and many other regions of the world only resulting in more poverty as the leader’s greed horded the money and failed to care for those in their charge! What a fateful day it will be for those men as women when they stand before the Lord to give account for their actions. That is why we must remember that many living in these impoverished conditions did not have the choice or opportunity to escape!
Jesus told us that the poor would be with us always. It is easy to sit in scorn of the homeless and impoverished from a position of plenty and means. If you look at that verse you will see the second part mentions that we will have the opportunity to take of them! We must be careful as the heart of God is toward the poor! The Scripture reminds us,
“If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,”
Deuteronomy 15:7 AMP
God has brought each of us out of the land or poverty into a place of blessing. We must always remember that there are still those who have not experienced that transformation! Our verse today warns us not to mock or make fun of the condition of the poor but rather to respond to the need at hand! There is a stern rebuke in the book of Job.
“You have not given water to the weary to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry. 8“But the land is possessed by the man with power, And the favored and honorable man dwells in it. 9“You have sent widows away empty-handed, And the arms (strength) of the fatherless have been broken.10“Therefore snares surround you, And sudden dread terrifies and overwhelms you;”
Job 22:7-10 AMP
Now we know that we cannot reach every impoverished person we see. We can however do our part to respond to the leading of the Holy Spirit and do something other than pray! Just as the days in the garden before sin, if each of us does our part there will be plenty to meet the need! How will you respond today? Have a giving day, Pastor Ken