Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; You do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
Psalm 41:1-2

The Bible repeats this theme many times: God has special blessings in store for those who remember the poor and help them. He watches out for those who watch out for those in need.

As the redeemed children of the King of the Universe, we represent our Father and meet the needs of the poor around us using the resources that He has placed into our hands.

This isn’t in place of evangelism; it is evangelism. It is communicating the Good News of God’s love for the sake of Christ, putting hands and feet on what we say we believe.

Helping the poor requires wisdom. We need to be guided by God’s Word and by His Spirit as we do it, because a mere human “bleeding heart” approach often does more harm than good. But “considering the poor” means discerning the real needs and taking those real needs into account as we seek to help.

It’s what God has called us to do. Whether that means providing food or shelter, helping someone find work or needed medical attention, or standing in the way to defend them from those who would do them harm, God loves to see His children behaving like royalty, representing our Royal Father in His love for them.

Lord, give me the wisdom that I need to discern the real needs, to recognize the resources You have placed into my hands, and to use those resources in the best way possible. Help me to be a true representative of my Heavenly Father, King of the Universe. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles