Deuteronomy 15:11- "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'
God Himself declares these words in scripture. The "poor, needy and orphans" will always be among us." It is our duty and responsibility as people of God and as a nation to be benevolent to them when God gives us opportunities and resources to do so.
When we serve the poor, needy, widow and orphans, God's Word declares that we are serving Him. When we fail to do so, we are rejecting Him.
Jesus declares that "ALL NATIONS" will be judged in Matthew 25:31-33 -When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 Before Him will be gathered all nations, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates his sheep from the goats. 33 He will set the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at the left.
34 “Then the King will say to those at His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in. 36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 And when did we see You sick or in prison and come to You?’
40 “The King will answer, ‘Truly I say to you, as you have done it for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you have done it for Me.’
41 “Then He will say to those at the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, I was naked and you did not clothe Me, I was sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
44 “Then they also will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not serve You?’
45 “He will answer, ‘Truly I say to you, as you did it not for one of the least of these, you did it not for Me.’
46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Everyone of us will individually give an account to God as to what God has commanded of us in taking care of the poor, needy, widows and orphans.
True service to God is not on Sunday morning. True service to God is our everyday service to those that are suffering and in need. Especially the poor, needy, widows, hungry and orphans.
The Apostle James tells us what pure and genuine religion is to God. God does not see as man sees. God sees through the lense of His Word in all His ways and in all that He say and does. Man on the other hand, sees and does what He often times want and need to do based on his own view.
Here is how James says that God views pure and genuine religion in James 1:27 -Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
In other words, not being corrupted by greed and ignoring the desperate need of the poor among us, but serving them where there is a need.
Many people in our country and our world have been blessed by God to have enough to help those in need around the world, and some still refuse to do so out of greed.
Know this fact! Everything that we accumulate on earth will be left here when we die. Others will live in our homes, drive our cars, spend our money, eat your food, sleep in your bed, wear your clothes, jewelry, cologne, perfumes, etc.
None of us will take ANYTHING with us except our soul which will live forever. What price have you placed onyour soul? What is it worth to you?
If God has blessed you, find someone on today that is less fortunate than you and bless them. God gave all of us what He gave us to be a blessing to others.
When I was growing up as a young girl, there was a song that the saints of old used to sing that says "You can't beat God's giving no matter how you try. The more you give, the more He will give to you."
The lyrics to that song still holds true today as far as God is concerned. It is the principal in which He operates. He loved us and He gave "JESUS". The World benefits still yet today from God's gift to us over 2k years ago through Jesus Christ, who shed His blood and died for our sins.
God specifically reminds us today of our responsibility to the poor, needy, widows and orphans. What will we do with what God told us in His Word on today?
To serve or to be served? Where do you stand on today in your service to God in serving others?
Remember, the poor, needy and widows will always be among us, for they will NEVER cease to be among us, but Jesus says He Himself will not always physically be with us.
God bless.
Debra
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