Extension Cord.

[This week's blogs will reflect on Reverend Joel's sermon from this past Sunday.]

Reverend Joel, during his sermon, mentioned a passage of scripture that is familiar to many of us. It is the story in Daniel chapter 4, where Daniel tries unsuccessfully to counsel King Nebuchadnezzar.

"O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged." (Daniel 4:27)

At the close of yesterday's blog I briefly mentioned that God is aware of what we do, or don't do, to meet the concerns of the poor. And as Reverend Joel mentioned, the act of giving to the poor leads to consequences that can bless individuals, families, and even the world.

How does the Lord figure into the dialogue between the rich and the poor? Proverbs 19:17 gives us a clue: "The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the LORD, and the LORD will repay him for his good deed."

It seems that when the poor are lifted up by the well-off, then God Himself becomes a third party in the exchange. The rich give, the poor receive, the LORD rewards.

An interesting side note is that, in the case of Nebuchadnezzar, his refusal to heed Daniel's counsel did not result in immediate judgement. Twelve months passed before the fateful day came, in which God severely afflicted Nebuchadnezzar by removing his kingdom and his sanity. It is a warning for us all.

Lord, help us to have a heart like Yours... a heart to give to the poor, for the sake of Your name.