Caring For Others Is Caring For God
In both Deuteronomy 15:4–11 and Matthew 25:42–45, God’s people are instructed that they should be concerned with and generous to the poor and those in need. In both Moses’ instruction to the Israelites and in Jesus’ warning to His followers, it is clear that there are consequences for not caring for the needy. But, there are blessings for those who are generous toward them. I pray that we would be generous to help those in need, realizing that God is faithful to bless those who have a heart to give. Amen.
However, there need be no poor people among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today. For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you. (Deuteronomy 15:4–6)
Israel would be so blessed by God in the Promised Land, that there would be no poverty. In fact they would have such abundance that they would be in position to lend to the nations around them and never be borrowers. They were also meant to rule over other nations but never be ruled by another nation.
If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward the needy among your fellow Israelites and give them nothing. They may then appeal to the LORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:7–11)
The Israelites were meant to be prosperous in the land God gave them. As such, if anyone was poor, their fellow Israelites were instructed to freely give to them. In return, God would bless them for their generosity. If they were not generous with those who needed help, God would view it as sin on their part. They were not supposed to deal underhandedly with other Israelites because the seventh year was near. Every seventh year was when all debts were to be forgiven. The Israelites were not supposed to avoid loaning to their brethren just because the debt might be forgiven soon and therefore not repaid.
For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ (Matthew 25:42–45)
Jesus told His followers that they were to care for the poor, the sick, the hungry, the prisoner and the stranger. When they cared for and helped the least among them, they were caring for the Lord and they would be judged righteous (see Matt. 25:31-40). In the same vein as Moses’ instruction to the Israelites that failing to be generous to the poor was a sin, Jesus told His followers that it was sinful to ignore the needs of the poor and destitute. Anyone who failed to help the least among them were in fact doing so to Jesus and they will be judged unfavorably in the final judgement.
Conclusion
God cares about His children and He expects us to care too. He expects us not to just say we love Him, but to love Him in everyone we see. He has blessed us and expects us to use that blessing to bless others, especially those in need. And He expects us to trust Him enough that through His abundance, we don’t lose when we give, but we are blessed with more. But, moreover, God views it as sin when we refuse to help or we give grudgingly and sparingly. Jesus made it clear that in failing to care for others who are in need, we deny Him. And we will be judged unfavorably for doing so. We may say we love God, but do we love the God in others? God made it clear in His word… Caring for others really is caring for God!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. ~ Proverbs 11:24
