Bible Study - Ministering (2) - Ready to Help the Poor - Deuteronomy 15:1-11 - January 25, 2015

Bible Study - Ministering (2) – Ready to Help the Poor – January 25, 2015

Our focus scripture is Deuteronomy 15:7-11.

Demonstrate GOD’S heart for the poor. This is an interesting subject. Here is where Christians need discernment. There are the needy and the greedy.

I basically have a tender heart toward the truly needy. I say truly needy because throughout the years we, as a family, organizations to which we have belonged and Sunday school classes have helped a number of needy folks. 

Unfortunately, a few were simply scammers.

When we were at another church many years ago, a man visited our men’s Sunday school class. He told us a sad story of being without work, divorced and having two children. He had nothing to cook on but a rusty pizza pan and he described other things which he needed for the mobile home he was renting. Plus, he was behind on his rent. Several from our class visited him and he showed us his rusty pizza pan that he used to prepare his children’s food and the other items he needed for his household. Our Sunday school class caught up his rent and bought some of the things he needed for the place he was renting.

Later, we found out that he had taken all of the things back to the place where we purchased them and got the money for them. It so happened, one of our class members knew the person where we had purchased the items and he told him what the man had done. Needless to say, we stopped giving anything to him. He was a deadbeat and lazy. He left our Sunday school class and simply went to another church and repeated the same scam.

Such experiences can make one callous or make you wise. I for one became callous and if someone in the introductory phase of meeting him or her, told me what a great Christian he or she was warning flags would go up. The LORD had to deal with me. Some people, due to a variety of reasons such as health issues, loss of a job, hours cut, insurance increases, poor economy or being taken advantage of, need help until they get reestablished to better manage their finances. Christians need to use common sense coupled with the gift of discernment.

GOD does not want us to ignore common sense or the prompting of the Holy Spirit but HE wants us to have a heart toward those in need and to help them. The world has learned the Christian trigger words to entice Christians into giving to them or to their projects. That is why I began by stating that Christians need to be equipped with the gift of discernment.

The scripture for this lesson is Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy means “second law-giving.” It is more than a restatement of the laws GOD gave to the Israelites through Moses. GOD was about to remove Moses from leading the Israelites and Joshua would become the new leader. The days of the Israelites wandering in the wilderness was about over and they were poised to enter the Promised Land. Moses would not enter the Promised Land because he disobeyed GOD.

As you may recall, 40 years earlier Moses sent 12 spies to scout the Promised Land and 10 of the spies came back with reports that it was a land flowing with milk and honey but there were giants living there. Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb, gave a favorable report and with faith in GOD they would be victorious. The report from the other ten spies ruled the day and fear prevailed. They did not proceed into the Promised Land because of lack of faith in GOD to give them victory over the current inhabitants. The result, GOD punished them for their lack of faith. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and GOD took care of them. Now there was a new generation of Israelites and it was time for them to claim the Promised Land as GOD intended.

Moses reviewed with the Israelites the instructions GOD had given them to put into practice, especially when they entered and were established in the Promised Land such as:

·       They were reminded of their history

·       GOD reminded them of the general laws that they needed to govern their nation, which included the Ten Commandments.

·       Reviewing specific stipulations of the covenant made with the Israelites.

·       Proper worship of GOD – Do not become followers of pagan gods and religion which they will encounter in the Promised Land.

·       Clean and unclean foods

·       Tithes

·       Observing the Sabbatical Year

Let’s read Deuteronomy 15:1-3: (The year of “the seventh year of the cancelation of debt.”

1 “At the end of every seven years you must cancel debts. 2 This is how to cancel debt: Every creditor is to cancel what he has lent his neighbor. He is not to collect anything from his neighbor or brother, because the Lord’s release of debts has been proclaimed. 3 You may collect something from a foreigner, but you must forgive whatever your brother owes you.

The Sabbatical Year is still in effect. In this day and time it began September 25, 2014 and will go to September 13, 2015. It is the Jewish year of 5775 since creation.

We will see that this command can be problematic for those loaning money because the seventh year is a fixed time period. In another seven years there will be another Sabbatical Year. This would mean the person loaning money would be best served to lend it in the first year following the end of the Sabbatical year. As the Sabbatical year approaches, the more reluctant the person loaning money could be to loan the money.

GOD cautions HIS chosen to be careful and examine their attitude as they ponder whether or not to loan the poor person money as the Sabbatical year approaches. If they do loan the money as they approach the Sabbatical year, they need to look at the loan more as a gift because it is unlikely that the loan will be paid back.

Notice that the “foreigner” or “non-believer” is not included in the Sabbatical Year directive. Notice the distinction between the “foreigner” or “non-believer” and the “brother” or “believer.”   

Let’s read Deuteronomy 15:4-6:

4 “There will be no poor among you, however, because the Lord is certain to bless you in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance— 5 if only you obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow every one of these commands I am giving you today. 6 When the Lord your God blesses you as He has promised you, you will lend too many nations but not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

The Hebrew language has several words for “poor.” The word used in this verse means materially and socially poor. It is our relationship with GOD and HIS blessings that result in us not being materially or socially poor. The Jews are good about helping each other.

GOD blesses what HE gives to HIS children and GOD would give them the Promised Land. In response to GOD’S blessings, HIS chosen are to obediently follow HIS commands. This directive has not been fully realized because of sin, thus there are poor among GOD’S chosen, which includes Christians.

The Jews have long believed that those who prosper have GOD’S blessings. Those who do not prosper have done something to offend GOD. This scripture implies this understanding.

I am grateful that, as Christians, we live under GOD’S grace but that does not excuse us from confessing, repenting and staying in relationship with GOD through our faith in CHRIST when we sin.

GOD blesses HIS chosen in order for them help others but HE does not bless HIS chosen for them to be disobedient and live foolishly.

The nation of Israel could lend money but it could not borrow money. Those who borrow from those who do not have the same values as HIS chosen will find themselves being ruled by those to whom they owe money. This, in turn, could result in them being made to compromise their commitment to GOD. 

This is good advice for us today.

Handling finances is critical for people and nations, especially when it comes to borrowing money. GOD’S desire is for HIS children to be wise in all of their financial matters. Wisdom comes from GOD; therefore, it is wise for HIS children to maintain an intimate relationship with HIM.

Finances coupled with the right relationship with GOD means the right use of our resources. 

King David wrote Psalm 37 and verse 25, copied below, gives us insight into GOD taking care of HIS own. It raises a question when those who claim to be such Godly people are begging. I know I likely hit a sensitive spot. This applies to those who do not use their resources wisely and the able bodied who are not willing to work. That is why we need discernment. This does not mean we cannot help them but we need to help them in the right way and not enable them. What do you think? How would you define begging?

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

It is vital that Christians maintain their relationship with GOD through CHRIST and obediently follow HIM.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 15:7-9:

7 “If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, you must not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has. 9 Be careful that there isn’t this wicked thought in your heart, ‘The seventh year, the year of canceling debts, is near,’ and you are stingy toward your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be • guilty.

This scripture addresses a fellow Israelite or Christian who is poor and you know about it. Again, the Hebrew word used here for “poor” means materially and socially poor. They are what we used to call “down on their luck” people. Often, our first thoughts are: “Is this person lazy?”, “Does he or she have a problem with addiction?”, “Is this person a poor money manager?” And the questions go on. The point of helping a person is not to help him or her out but to help him or her up. They may need more than money, they may need counseling or a job or a better job or education and the list goes on.

GOD’S people are admonished not to be “hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.” The “hardhearted” are those who know what is the right thing to do but refuse. The “tightfisted” are those who have the means to help the poor but refuse to do so. They are tightfisted.

Pay special attention that the poor person in this scripture is a “brother” or “fellow believer.”

GOD’S people are admonished to “open up their hands” and release their resources to give a helping hand to those in need. Again, it is not giving a hand out but a hand up and to be discerning. Christians are not to be enablers.

GOD’S people must guard against letting the approaching “Sabbatical Year” prevent them from meeting the needs of the poor because the debt would be cancelled in a short time. Such an attitude reflects the true heart of the person being prompted to meet the financial needs of the poor.

If you give into your own selfishness and not give the loan, they will cry out to the LORD and you will be guilty of not meeting the need of that poor person. You have sinned. You have missed the mark of GOD’S expectations for you in representing HIM because HE has blessed you to be able to help others.

Can we as Christians hide behind the church or some other organization by saying go to such-and-such place for assistance? Yes and I am guilty because I do not want to get involved. Safety and security are factors to consider but if we direct them elsewhere, do we support the places we tell them to go? But there are still times when GOD calls us to respond as individuals. If he does, will we or are we hardhearted and tightfisted? Again, I urge caution because the days are evil. Let someone know what you are doing.

If we have a bad attitude toward the poor, we are to confess it to GOD and ask HIM to help us get beyond negative attitudes toward the poor. Also ask HIM to give you the gift of discernment.

There are a lot of wolves in sheep’s clothing and you do not want to be a victim. Always let someone know what you are doing or about to do. If you suspect something is wrong, don’t do it. Call someone who might know how to advise you such as a charitable organization, the police, sheriff’s office or local media to check it out. Scams are wide spread. There are those who use the tenderheartedness of people to take advantage of them.

I read recently of those preying upon women.  They place a doll in a baby carrier on the side of the road near a wooded or grassy section. This is a trap to get mostly women to stop to see about the baby and the whereabouts of the parent only to be snatched, robbed, raped and possibly killed. If you see such call 911 and report it.

Let’s read Deuteronomy 15:10-11:

10 Give to him, and don’t have a stingy heart when you give, and because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do. 11 For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.’

GOD’S people are admonished to open their fists and stingy hearts by lending to the poor person even if the Sabbatical year is approaching. When GOD’S people give without being stingy, GOD rewards them.

The poor will always be in our communities and GOD’S people are the solution to helping those in need.

JESUS said in Matthew 26:11:

11 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.

Because the poor will always be with us it is no excuse not to help them, but it is an opportunity to give them a hand up and not a handout. Be wise and discerning. Blessings!!!