He Will Reward Them
God deeply cares for everyone, and He desires for His children to care for everyone as well. Proverbs 19:17 tells us: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” To show kindness towards the poor is an act of obedience and love for God. In this proverb, King Solomon is sharing distinctions in the life of the obedient—caring for what God cares for, loving who God loves, and giving what God has already blessed them with.
When I think about lending or giving, there are two aspects that come to mind—the inward and the outward. One’s inward attitude must reflect a heart of compassion or kindness. Giving without a heart of compassion is obligation, not obedience. A person’s outward action is the physical act of giving according to the individual’s needs and one’s own ability. We cannot give what we do not have, and we should give what is essential.
God is calling us, as His children, to be kind and generous to the poor through faithful obedience in what we have to offer, and He will reward us for that. I know that, personally, I have found myself hesitant to be generous in giving to the poor. I experience uncertainty and fear of the unknown. Will I have enough? Will what I give be used wisely? Scripture reminds us to not lose heart in our giving because we know that God says He will reward those who are kind to the poor.
Beyond giving financially, what are some other ways we can be generous towards the poor?
- Look for local, practical opportunities. Search online for possible options and get plugged into serving the needy near you.
- Look through your closet and donate clothing items that are still in good shape to a local shelter.
- When the opportunity presents itself, take time to have a conversation. God created us as communal beings. We all experience a yearning for connection.
- Be teachable and open to learning about the needy and how to help. Then, inform others around you about the opportunities to help.
Hope is ignited when we are generous to the poor by caring and being kind. Together, let’s do the Kingdom work of helping others feel seen, cared for, and connected with a sense of belonging.
