Kindness to the Poor is a Loan to the Lord

The economy of God is so far above our flawed understanding of economy, that's it's nearly impossible for us to grasp.

Consider the Proverb, "Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and He will give a reward to the lender." -- Proverbs 19:17 HCSB

Seriously!? Really!? No worldly math scholar could ever agree, that to give to a poor person, will net "a reward to the lender," from somewhere else.

His ways are higher than our ways. How else can we understand? When we do the math, it will never work.

You and I will be rewarded someday for the kindness we show to the poor today. God is scheduling a Divine appointment for you and I today. It will happen. You and I will be faced with an opportunity to act on this inspired proverb. We just don't know the timing or the amounts. There won't be a bolt of lightning, and there might be no witnesses, and we might overlook it, but the appointment will happen.

Boaz Didn't Have A Boss

Check out the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. It's very short, an easy read, and a fantastic love story. So when Naomi and Ruth made their way back to Bethlehem with nothing, and were dependent upon the kindness of strangers, how did Boaz help them? Did he hand them the classifieds? Did he tell them to get a better education and start over? No way! Boaz was the boss, he provided. He was able to provide food and income to Ruth and Naomi in his own fields. Are you positioning yourself to help today's Ruth and Naomi, or are you just doing your job? Are you sewing your own fields or someone else's? As Christians, we owe it to the church to sew our own fields, to provide more.

Quick test... Are you able to stand up in your workplace and shout, "Jesus is Lord!" Well? Can you? Will you be fired? Will you get written up? Do you fear for your next promotion? If the answer is yes to any of these questions, you've made yourself a slave to the world. Get out from under that yoke, and sew your own field. Be your own boss. Whatever it is, whatever your skill, just do it! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." -- Phil. 4:13

Profanity indicates a weak argument or a weak person. Probably both.

But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. Timothy 2:16
Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? James 3:11

Profanity indicates a weak argument or a weak person. Probably both.

Why haggle? Solomon Didn't

“Therefore, command that cedars from Lebanon be cut down for me. My servants will be with your servants, and I will pay your servants’ wages according to whatever you say, for you know that not a man among us knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians.” 1 Kings 5:6 (HCSB)

When was the last time you hired someone by saying, "You're the best that's ever been, and I'll pay you whatever you ask." That's the example King Solomon sets for us. Not only does he compliment King Hiram, but Solomon provides more food than Hiram required as payment, and does so "year after year." 1Kings 5:11.

It could be said, "Well, King Solomon was the wealthiest king that has ever existed, of course he didn't sweat the price." But King Solomon's wealth was as much a result of his generosity, as it was his wisdom.

Give more, don't squabble, and trust God's provision.

God Feeds the Birds

"God Feeds even the birds everyday. But He doesn't shove the worms down their throats."
-- Ed Orberson

A Slacker's Way

A slacker's way is like a thorny hedge, but the path of the upright is a highway. -- Proverbs 15:18-19

Help as many as you can

"Help as many people as you can, as much as you can, for as long as you can."

-- John Wesley