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Day 247 Proverbs 22:22 Proverbs 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. Every country has their poor and homeless. Some countries have more poor than others. How we take care of our poor is a reflection on who we are as individuals. If we exploit our poor to gain status, or cause them greater hardship, that too is a reflection on our character. However, if we take care of our poor, see they are properly housed, have food, and give them an education, not only will they be able to climb out of their poverty and have some dignity about them, but blessings will come our way as well. Solomon saw poor people every day as they sat in the city gates, begging alms for their daily sustenance. He also saw the attitude of people towards them. He knew what God said about the poor in the Law of Moses, and knew that anyone who mistreated them, God would deal with them. Jesus was often in the company of the poor and the outcast. On one occasion a woman anointed his feet with precious and costly perfume and Judas, feeling superior, said the ointment should have been sold and given to the poor. Jesus rebuked Judas, not because he was insensitive to the poor, but because Judas was not thinking of the poor, but his own pockets. John 12:3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment. 4 Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, 5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? 6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein. 7 Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. 8 For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always. Your attitude towards the poor is what God sees, not the outward appearances that make you look good in the eyes of the people. God expects you to be kind to the poor, helping them, giving them what they need without thought to what others think of what you did. When you genuinely care about the poor in your neighborhoods, God will bless you. Let’s pray: Father, give me a heart for the poor because you have a heart for them. Let me help them in any way I am able, not for show, but because you care about them as much as you care about me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 14 May 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay