“If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother; but you shall fully open your hand to him, and generously lend him enough for his need in whatever he lacks.” Deuteronomy 15:7-8
“In the book of Deuteronomy, God speaks through Moses to share His law with His people. Nearly the entire book is a series of rules God gave to the Israelites to show them how to live. But it’s not just a series of rules for rules sake. The text reiterates many times that it’s a field guide to how life works best.” Wendy McMahan “What is the Meaning of There Will Be No Poor Among You?” www.fh.org
I love how Wendy McMahan describes the Book of Deuteronomy as “a field guide to how life works best.”
What if we truly viewed Wayne County, or the twenty or so square miles around us, as “the promised land” within which every person was a brother and sister that we ought to help, if needed?
What if we accepted it as fact – the same way we accepted that we ought to filter water from a stream, or keep a supply of dry tinder, or store our food away from where we sleep?
We would do it because we knew it would keep us healthy and thriving.
Pray
“God, thank You for Your provision for me. Please speak to my heart through your Scripture. Implant Your words on my soul. Give me compassion for those around me, and an understanding of their needs. As I grow and learn, prompt me to speak up for others in both words and deeds. As You fill me up – pour Your Spirit out through me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
