Psalm 113:5-7

Who can be compared with the LORD our God, who is enthroned on high? He stoops to look down on heaven and on earth. He lifts the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump.

When you hear that God is enthroned on high, it’s easy to assume that He must therefore be totally disconnected from the harsh realities of our world. The psalmist makes it clear that the reverse is true. Mighty and exalted as He undoubtedly is, God is also intimately concerned about what is happening here in the world, so much so that He not only looks down at what is going on but takes action to rectify the situation.

The whole Bible shows a concern for the poor. The law of Moses insisted on the poor being protected and supported, the prophets continually reminded people of their duty to care for the most vulnerable and Jesus went out of His way to reach out to the weak and marginalised. In every society, there are poor people, and yet the majority try to get on with life as if they didn’t exist.

God calls us to care for the poor in our world today. The facts are staggering and deeply disturbing. According to the World Bank, 700 million people live in extreme poverty, which they define as living on less than $3 a day. The majority of these people live in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by South Asia. However, poverty is present in every society. It is often carefully hidden, but none of us lives far away from people whose lives are distorted and restricted by a lack of money.

God is still in the business of lifting the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump and looks to us to make it happen.

Question

In what ways are you able to help the poor in your community?

Prayer

Lord God, I thank You that You care for the poor and vulnerable. Help me to find ways to reflect Your love to all those who are marginalised in my community. Amen