Proverbs 19:17 (NIV)
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward them for what they have done.
Proverbs says in some places that people may become poor because of unwise decisions (foolishness, folly, laziness, not responsive to correction, etc.). But it also says that a characteristic of wise people is the way they assist the poor.
It's a bit of a challenge. It seems the wise help those who make unwise decisions.
Let's be clear. Just because a person is poor does not mean they have made unwise choices. In fact, this is a point of deep Holy Spirit–inspired self-examination for many of us. Those of us who are not poor tend to approach the poor with the prejudgment that they somehow deserve to be poor because of their unwise decisions. "It's their own fault," we tell ourselves, in an effort to excuse ourselves from helping them. "Get a job!" we want to tell them.
Proverbs shows us what wisdom looks like when it comes to the poor.
Regardless of why people find themselves in poverty, it is a horribly unkind reality. Everything and everyone seemingly conspires against the poor. From today's chapter we see this:
The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
how much more do their friends avoid them!
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
they are nowhere to be found. (v7)
In other words, financial poverty creates the downward spiraling dynamics of familial poverty, relational poverty, emotional poverty, physical poverty, and on it goes. Poverty is a diabolical reality, and to the extent we judge the poor for their poverty, we perpetuate the cycle.
At the same time, do we continue to pour water into a leaking bucket? One can argue that giving money to the poor can also perpetuate the cycle.
What are we to do? It's a complex problem.
Proverbs give us guidance. For instance, it says we probably shouldn't co-sign on any debts.
Proverbs 22:26 "Do not be one who gives pledges, who puts up security for debts"
Proverbs 17:18 "A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor"
Today's text couldn't be more clear though:
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and he will reward them for what they have done.
We need to remember: Jesus uses this passage in his statement in Matthew’s gospel.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me'" (25:40).
The biblical connection is undeniable. Helping the poor = lending to the Lord. Wisdom makes sure the connection is undeniable in our lives.
It's true. When we help the poor, we worship God. Given that, what does it mean when we don't help the poor?
PRAYER
Abba Father, you are the King of heaven and earth. All wealth is yours, yet you chose to come to us in the form of a Jewish peasant, who had nowhere to lay his head, who was born in a manger and buried in a borrowed tomb. Your mercy is truly a marvel. Fill us with this wisdom to know that lending to the poor is lending to you. We pray in Jesus's name, amen.
PROMPTS
- Why do we so readily justify ourselves for not giving to people who ask for our help? (And call it wisdom.)
- What if we began to lend to the poor without expectation of repayment?
What would that do to us? - How might we learn to imagine the face of Jesus in the face of the poor?
How would that change things?
For them?
For us?
Comments