Echoes of Kindness (James 1-2‪)‬ Saraland Sermons - saralandchristians.com

    • 기독교

What does God see when he looks down upon His creation? Do you think his eyes pause on the grandeur of palaces or the shimmer of wealth? Probably not. His eyes are caught by the shadowed alleyways, the forgotten doorsteps, the faces of children, women, and men who society has overlooked. Scripture reveals to us that God's heart is profoundly stirred by the plight of the poor and vulnerable.

James 1:27 (ESV) — 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 2:5–7 (ESV) — 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Proverbs 14:31 (ESV) — 31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

There is no doubt that God loves the poor. But what happens when His people, those called by His name, become rich and turn a blind eye to the needs around them? What does it say about our understanding of His kingdom, our alignment with His heart, when we ignore the silent cries of the needy among us?

But, wait a minute. We live in a time when everyone pretends to be poor so that they can swindle us. There are con artists on every street corner and we have had plenty come into our building looking for a handout. Should we just give our money to anyone who asks? Maybe it’s not so much that we love our money, but we don’t agree with the idea of letting some ungodly, immoral person take advantage of us. Should we give our money and let them use it for who knows what? Let’s evaluate what the Bible really says about giving and caring for the poor.

The Biblical Pic

What does God see when he looks down upon His creation? Do you think his eyes pause on the grandeur of palaces or the shimmer of wealth? Probably not. His eyes are caught by the shadowed alleyways, the forgotten doorsteps, the faces of children, women, and men who society has overlooked. Scripture reveals to us that God's heart is profoundly stirred by the plight of the poor and vulnerable.

James 1:27 (ESV) — 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

James 2:5–7 (ESV) — 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

Proverbs 14:31 (ESV) — 31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

There is no doubt that God loves the poor. But what happens when His people, those called by His name, become rich and turn a blind eye to the needs around them? What does it say about our understanding of His kingdom, our alignment with His heart, when we ignore the silent cries of the needy among us?

But, wait a minute. We live in a time when everyone pretends to be poor so that they can swindle us. There are con artists on every street corner and we have had plenty come into our building looking for a handout. Should we just give our money to anyone who asks? Maybe it’s not so much that we love our money, but we don’t agree with the idea of letting some ungodly, immoral person take advantage of us. Should we give our money and let them use it for who knows what? Let’s evaluate what the Bible really says about giving and caring for the poor.

The Biblical Pic