“Do Not Be Tight-fisted Towards The Poor!”

“Do Not Be Tight-fisted Towards The Poor!”
To the Israelites God had commanded that every seventh year all debts must be cancelled. It was intended to help the poor but it also had a sour taste. As the seventh year approached it was difficult to secure a loan from a rich brother because the rich feared that a loan given in the sixth year or early seventh year had to be cancelled by the end of the seventh year.
God told the rich, “Be careful not to harbour this wicked thought: ‘The seventh year, the year of cancelling of debts, is near,’ so that you do not show ill will towards your needy brother and give him nothing.”
It may be true that “Mr Trust died because he was poisoned by Mr Bad Pay,” but that wasn’t an excuse to refuse lending to a brother who was in dire need. If you were able to help but refused to help because you feared you may not get back your money you were doing a disservice to yourself. If such a needy brother appealed to the Lord against you, “you would be found guilty of sin.”
Big businesses thrive because of loans from banks and other financial institutions. Even our African countries have huge debts which yet-to-be-born children are to bear the brunt of repayment. In all businesses there is always openings for credits and loans, and there is always provision for debt cancellation of “bad debts.”
At every strata of society there are less-fortunate people who need the help of those who are better-off. It is aggravated in the midst of these burnings and displacements which have caused some once wealthy people to become paupers in their own country.
When you study these sad drama of impermanence then you must help the needy because “no condition is permanent.” Their fate can be yours tomorrow!
Most importantly helping the poor is a divine imperative which is to your advantage. God says, “Give generously…and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be open-handed towards your brothers and towards the poor and needy in your land”(Dt.15:1&7-11).
My friend, just look around you! Have you seen that person whose situation is worst than yours? Help that one without grudging. You may not help all the poor people in the world, but helping one poor person may mean the world to him.
Remember God did not spare his prized possession because you and I were poor in spiriit and needed spiritual assistance which he gave us.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me to be open-handed to the poor and needy. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!