Addressing Caring for Widows and Orphans

 Addressing Caring for Widows and Orphans

Exodus 22: ²² “You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. ²³ If you afflict them in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry; ²⁴ and My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

 

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GOD continued to speak to Moses about how to treat people. This time HE specifically calls out widows and orphans.

 

My Observations:

• GOD shows HIS heart for taking care of people, especially those who are helpless.
• Widows and orphans traditionally were not allowed to have land or inherit anything from the children of Israel.
• GOD stated that HIS wrath would be poured out on those who afflicted the widows and orphans.

 

Caring for people is part of GOD’s nature. HE does not want those who are not allowed to own land to be put to harsh tasks. Afflicted could mean a form of slavery or harsh mistreatment. GOD did not mind widows working, as long as they had their fair chance and were not treated harshly.

 

Orphans who had no land to inherit were to be treated equally when they worked for someone. GOD implied that HE was watching how people treat one another. Bullying people in the workplace does not sit well with GOD. Nor does mistreating widows and orphans, favoring those who would inherit the land.

 

What does this tell us about today? Homeless people are less favored than self-care. Affliction can come in many flavors. Its root is in selfishness and hatred. GOD showed that HIS people were to be kind to those who wanted to work, but were not allowed, or they were treated poorly.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD remind Moses about caring for widows and orphans?
• Has GOD opened your eyes to widows, orphans and homeless people?
• What can you do today to show you care for other people that GOD cares for?

People Treatment

People Treatment

James 2: ⁸ You will be doing the right thing if you obey the law of the Kingdom, which is found in the scripture, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” ⁹ But if you treat people according to their outward appearance, you are guilty of sin, and the Law condemns you as a lawbreaker. 

 

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Approaching a person with tattered clothing was easy. I felt comfortable “telling” him or her about GOD. But approaching a person in an elevator who wore expensive clothes made me hesitate.

 

• I said to myself, “He or she won’t want to hear this message.”
• I convinced myself that one group was easier to speak to than others.
• I inadvertently treated people different based on socio-economic status.

 

James continues to warn everyone about mistreating people based on appearance. He drives the point deeper by stating tat everyone should “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” He also provides what would happen if mistreatment occurs based on appearance.

 

My Observations:

• GOD wants me to value everyone as much as HE values them.
• GOD wants me to see how much HE loves people, so I have to look at people differently.
• GOD gives me an easy way to treat people well, namely love people as I love myself.

 

Treating people on different levels is easy to do, especially if he or she looks different than me. I mean, I cannot possibly know what is inside of someone’s heart by looking at him or her. Lavishly dressed people may be full of as much hatred as a tattered dirty dressed person. They also could be full of love. Who can tell? GOD can!

 

HE wants me to see him or her as a person who need the love of GOD as much as I do. HE wants me to think “What would I do and feel if I were in this person’s situation? Would I be afraid to ask for help? Would I be too proud? HE then wants me to take action and do “the right thing.” I am glad GOD does not judge me based on my masks, because HE knows my heart.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer emphasize treating people the same?
• Have you ever looked at someone and thought differently about him or her solely based on appearance?
• Will you practice seeing beyond outer appearance so you can embrace the love of GOD for him or her today?

Looked Over

 

Looked Over

Romans 13: ⁸ Be under obligation to no one—the only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law. ⁹ The commandments, “Do not commit adultery; do not commit murder; do not steal; do not desire what belongs to someone else”—all these, and any others besides, are summed up in the one command, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” ¹⁰ If you love others, you will never do them wrong; to love, then, is to obey the whole Law.

 

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Getting off the train for the first time on the new job, I ran into a homeless person. I had an extra dollar, so I gave it to him. As I rounded the corner, there was another and another. “I’m sorry, I don’t have anymore” was the lie I told as I had much more in my pocket. The next day it was the same. So the following day I decided to go a different route to avoid seeing the homeless.

 

• Many times I have overlooked the homeless.
• Many times I avoided giving to the homeless because the problem seemed too large for me.
• Many times I said to myself, “I barely have enough for me, let alone this person.”

 

Paul writes about the greatest commandment JESUS spoke about, namely Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Love is required to obey the Law. But “Who is my neighbor?”

 

• GOD wants me to love the people in my household and the houses surrounding me.
• GOD wants me to love the people who are not in my neighborhood, but are out on the street.
• GOD wants me to love the overlooked such as the poor, widowed and physically sick.

 

When GOD said “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few” HE knew many people would be so focused on their own struggles that we could not open our eyes to another person’s struggles. GOD wants me to take a moment to “see” others and be involved by loving them. Even if it is a cup of water given in love, I have obeyed GOD.

 

• What will you do to show your love to a stranger or a homeless person today?
• Will you go out and give to a person in need and do it in secret?
• Can you add love to your heart so you will see more people who GOD wants you to serve today?

Exiled and Evacuated

Exiled and Evacuated

Acts 18: After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. ² There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, ³ and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. ⁴ Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

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After the devastation of the hurricane, all that was left of some neighborhoods was a memory. Homes were washed away as the levies broke and floods ensued. Later I went to assist in the repair. It would take over a decade to provide shelter for those who lost their homes.

• I have seen cities that have been torn up.
• I have seen cities that have been devastated.
• I have met people who lost everything they had, with no means to recover.

Paul met Aquila and Priscilla in Corinth. They were exiled because Claudius was tired of the squabbles the Jews were making over JESUS. Claudius exiled all the Jews, prominent and lesser known. They were now homeless. Paul went to help them.

• GOD wants me to help the homeless.
• GOD wants me to help repair the devastation.
• GOD wants me to help those who have been exiled, left out and forgotten.

Any help is welcome when people lose everything. I mean even a cup of water feels great when no water is available. GOD sees my efforts when I assist people in need. While it can sometimes be overwhelming, GOD wants me to serve one person at a time with what I can contribute. Even if it is a smile, GOD can bless the recipient. I am glad to serve.

• Are you willing to serve those who lost everything?
• Are you shielded from seeing the homeless by giving to a gathering who gives to an organization who may give to the homeless?
• Will you directly help those who are in need today?

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Acts 11: ²⁷ And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. ²⁹ Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. ³⁰ This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

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“Please list your KSA’s” was the direction given to me when applying for a job. “KSA’s?” I questioned. “Yes, your knowledge, skills and abilities” she replied. I was willing to do this because a job awaited on the other side of this activity, or at least I hoped.

• Many times I used my knowledge at work so I could get a paycheck.
• Many times I used my skills at work so I could get a raise.
• Many times I used my abilities at work so I could get a promotion and have a bigger paycheck.

Agabus, a prophet, was warned by the HOLY SPIRIT that there would be a terrible famine. Relief was needed in Judea. The disciples became that relief, each according to their abilities.

• GOD wants me to use my knowledge to bring relief to people.
• GOD wants me to use my skills to help people in need.
• GOD wants me to use my abilities to serve people.

Gifts and talents are not to be wasted. From simple skills to complex, GOD wants me to use what HE provided to me to assist others. It’s not always about money. GOD may want me to do something as simple as picking up the trash off of the parking lot of my apartment while praying for my neighbors.

GOD sent me into the world, not to become part of the world, but to bring HIS message of love. When times are difficult, HE wants me to use what HE gave me to help. I am grateful for the purpose HE has given me.

• Do you have knowledge, skills and abilities that you are only using for work?
• Do you have gifts and talents you have not used in a while because you work a lot?
• Will you use what you have learned or your natural talents to help someone in need for GOD today?

Steps to “All is Well”

Jeremiah 22: ³ This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

⁴ For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people. ⁵ But if you do not obey these commands, declares the Lord, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’”

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I sometimes wonder why problems occur. I mean can’t I simply have a peaceful existence? Can’t I hide in my house, not engaging anyone with problems and just live?

• GOD wants me to actively meet people so I can “Do what is just and right.”
• GOD wants me to meet other people so I can “Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed.”
• GOD wants me to seek other people so I can “Do what is right in the LORD’s eyes” by not being violent to the foreigners, fatherless or widows.

Hiding in my house and waiting to die is a travesty. GOD has bestowed on me gifts and talents that are HIS. HE wants me to use them on other people so that HE can draw people, who have rejected HIM, back to HIS saving graces.

Each and every day, GOD places another opportunity in my face to share HIS love. HE gives me twenty four more hours to seek others around me and to actively engage in what matters to HIM. It is up to me to make the most out of each day.

• Are you actively seeking to grow GOD’s kingdom?
• Do you want all to be well in your life?
• Can you use the next twenty four hours a little more wisely?

Words of Encouragement

Isaiah 35: ³ Strengthen the feeble hands,
    steady the knees that give way;
⁴ say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, do not fear;
your God will come,
    he will come with vengeance;
with divine retribution
    he will come to save you.”

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“Your tie is supposed to line up with your belt and zipper” was the great dressing lesson my uncle gave me. “Use fine sandpaper after the clear coat” was another lesson from another uncle. “Make a loop when stitching your pants” my aunt told me in yet another lesson.

• Sometimes I need help.
• Sometimes I need assistance.
• Sometimes I need someone to teach me.

Many times I really needed help. I mean I ran into situations where I felt lost and could not accomplish what I set out to do. I was faced with problems and sometimes had no way out. Fortunately I was blessed with people I could call.

• GOD says to me “Strengthen the feeble hands” meaning I need to help someone who cannot do for themselves.
• GOD says to me “Steady the knees that give way” meaning I need to support those who cannot stand for themselves.
• GOD says to me “Say to those with fearful hearts, Be strong and do not fear, your GOD will come with vengeance; with divine retribution HE will come to save you.”

Many times I received help and now it is time to be the help. GOD calls me to speak words of encouragement into others so they will continue on HIS wonderful path. HE removes barriers and HE is the only one who can speak blessings into existence. HE shows the way and holds up the weak. GOD wants me to not just talk, HE wants me to “do” and to “be.” GOD wants me to help.

• Are you passing by the weak and feeble?
• Are you dodging those who need your help?
• Can you reach out and help someone in need today?
• Will you ask GOD for more strength to help others?

Giving is Living

Proverbs 19: ¹⁷ Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he will reward them for what they have done.

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Looking at the time, I realized I was running late. It was cold and I had to park far away. I walked with a bit of a gallop and stopped at a crosswalk of a very busy street. I heard a voice from a person sitting on the ground. “Do you have any spare change” the person asked. I shrugged as the light changed and I crossed the street. I’ll give to them when I return from the gala I was attending. When I got back, the person was nowhere to be found.

• Sometimes I miss the opportunity.
• Sometimes I do not help the poor.
• Sometimes I ignore the needy.

I actually had plenty of time to help the person. I timed how long it would take me to pull my wallet out of my pocket and grab a dollar bill, it was ten seconds.

• GOD wants me to help those HE puts in front of me.
• GOD wants me to give to those who HE prompts me to give.
• GOD wants me to provide for those who HE delivers to me.

GOD said “You will never know if you are entertaining an angel.” Since HE challenges my heart to see if I can handle large sums of money, HE gives me opportunities to see what I will do with small amounts. I can horde it for myself and make excuses for not giving or I can do without for a moment and give. GOD wants me to give and be excited.

Are you a hoarder?

Do you judge the homeless saying they will spend the money on alcohol or drugs?

When is the last time you missed a meal in order to give it to someone?

Will you seek people today to give to?

Stop Dodging

Psalm 109: ³⁰ With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
    in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.
³¹ For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
    to save their lives from those who would condemn them.

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After a while my eyes would glance away unconsciously. I knew the route that would have the least amount of contact and still get me to my destination on time. Still, on this route there seemed to be more this day. It was inevitable. One got in front of me and there was no way around!

“Could you spare some change?” the seemingly homeless person asked me. “They probably will spend it on booze or drugs” I justified in my mind. And besides I read an article where some guy made more money begging than I did working hard every day! “No” I answered with coins jingling in my pocket.

• Sometimes I label the needy so I can avoid the needy.
• Sometimes I justify the act of not helping the needy.
• Sometimes I look at the needy as “them” and not us.

Terms like “you can’t save everyone” and “God helps those who help themselves” are not written anywhere in the Bible, yet they were guiding principles to my actions towards the homeless and destitute. BUT GOD wanted me to think about people differently.

• GOD wants me to empathize with the poor not just have pity on them.
• GOD wants me to have the mentality that all can be reached and it is up to me to be available.
• GOD wants me to seek those who are in need for HE said “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Instead of dodging the homeless, GOD wanted me to be prepared to give to those HE put in my path, “for HE stands at the right hand of the needy to save their lives from those who would condemn them.”

• Are you in need and think GOD has forgotten you?
• Are you trying to avoid going out and helping the needy?
• If you are in need can you open your hand and let GOD stand with you?
• If you haven’t helped the needy in a while can you go out and have direct contact with them instead of anonymously giving?