30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 14 12-14 Friend of the poor 07 The joy of the Lord is our strength
📖 Luke 14:12-14
05Dec19 - *The joy of the Lord is our strength* - _Luke 14:12-14_ - Bible reading: _Isaiah 58:7-8,10_
_Luke 14:13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind._
The Lord was teaching the ruler of the Pharisees, to be a friend of the poor and not the rich. The reason being that it is the poor, who teach us the lesson of faith in God. Our God is calling us to be friends of the poor.
When we look at the list of the people, whom Jesus spoke about, let us not see them only with physical ailments. Poverty is complex. People are caught in various bondages and these bondages in which people are caught in, mesh with each other. Poverty is a powerful entanglement, from which it is not easy for people to be set free.
The bondages that people are caught in are cultural, social, spiritual, personal / psychological / intellectual, physical / medical / addictions and economical. These bondages are connected with each other, making it a complex web. They shall know the Truth and the Truth will set them free. This is the reason why the Church has to be in the forefront of delivering people from the web of poverty.
Not only are we to use the tithe, but also our offerings as a resource to take up the issues of the poor, the Lord wants us to celebrate with the poor. _Deuteronomy 12:11-12 then there will be the place where the LORD your God chooses to make His name abide. There you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, the heave offerings of your hand, and all your choice offerings which you vow to the LORD. (12) And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levite who is within your gates, since he has no portion nor inheritance with you._
If this was the standard of giving and sharing that was prescribed for the people of God in the Old Testament times, ought not our standard of giving and sharing exceed those measurements? The OT standards are a good bench marker for us to consider and exceed.
How do we honour God? _Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honours Him has mercy on the needy._ When we do not care for the poor, we are oppressing the poor. It is in having mercy on the needy that we honour God.
We ought to be people of joy. The joy of the Lord is our strength. How can we experience the fullness and the joy of the Lord? It is when we become a giving, a sharing and a caring community of people. _Isaiah 58:7-8 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? (8) Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. (10) If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.
The early Church was the champion of the poor. _Act 4:34-35 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, (35) and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need._
*Thought to ponder*
```Hebrews 13:1-2 Let brotherly love continue. (2) Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.```