Compassion

I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.  Psalm 37:25 

Many have wondered, if God is good, why are there so many starving children in the world? In truth, God has given enough food on this earth to feed every person. Some of the responsibility for sustenance lies with God’s people. In the Bible, the Lord repeatedly exhorts His people to help the poor.  

However, there are many reasons why the poor are poor, and sometimes the solution is deeper than simply giving food or money. Programs can offer microloans to start businesses or buy chickens or goats to help the poor build sustainable incomes. The old saying, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you can feed him for a lifetime,” holds true. Also, various lifestyles, such as drug addiction, result in great hardships for the entire family. Around the world, there are different levels of problems that require a variety of solutions.  

You need not throw your hands up in despair at worldwide poverty. Ask God for wisdom to do your part. Refer to and think about the following scriptures, including the verse following today’s, “They are always generous and lend freely: their children will be a blessing” (Psalm 37:26)—Leviticus 19:9-10, 1 John 3:17-18, Luke 3:11, James 2:15-18, Proverbs 19:17.  

As you meditate on those verses, ask God for creative ideas to help those who are desperate for help. Pray that the people of the United States would return to the Lord to receive His blessings so that their needs will be met and they may benefit the whole world. Ask that His people will show more love and compassion to the poor.  

Today’s Verse: Psalm 37:25 

I have been young, and now am old, 
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken 
    or his children begging for bread. 

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Matthew 25:31-46 

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from 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 welcomed me, 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, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘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 welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” 

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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