God's Heart

One thing is undeniably true: God has a heart for the poor--both in terms of how we interact with them on a personal level and how we help them meet their needs. Solomon tells us that to not have God's heart for the poor is to taunt Him. Sound like a good idea to you: to taunt God? Other places in Scripture tell us that to not visibly demonstrate God's heart for the poor is to blaspheme His name--to put His testimony that He is love up to ridicule and shame before a watching world. Sound like being a good witness to you? Paul tells us that we are to use our excess resources to help the working poor meet their needs, that those who are financially blessed should be eager to use their blessing to be generous, to be on the alert for opportunities to share their earthly wealth because only by doing so will they be able to grasp fully the real richness and meaning of life. James, as I've mentioned before, tells us that we should be dedicated to helping the widows and orphans in their need. Paul also adds that if a church has widows that have unmet needs that that church is pagan not Christian. And, I believe the same holds true for single moms. Am I and the church I attend committed to the upholding of the name of Christ and the glory of His gracious, loving character? Only to the degree to which we have God's heart for the poor.