Sharing With the Poor

God made it clear to the Israelites that not all the grain of their fields, nor all the grapes of their vineyard, nor all the olives of their olive trees belonged to them. The fallen stalks of grain, the hard-to-reach grapes, and the stubborn olives were to be left for the poor. God cared for the destitute and commanded the Israelites to provide for them (Deuteronomy 24:19-22).

Some may complain that the government spends hard-earned tax dollars on welfare programs for those who just don’t want to work. But there are many legitimately needy people who benefit from this help. You or someone in your family may have availed yourself of this assistance at times.

God often blesses you so that you can share with others (Ephesians 4:28). He will even nudge your heart to help others when you don’t feel like you can really afford to. That’s what God is like. He considers the needs of the poor and wants you to consider them as well (Psalm 41:1; Proverbs 29:4). Give wisely, but trust that God knows what He’s doing.

_{Excerpts from 3-Minute Daily Devotions for Men, compiled by Barbour Staff}