Great Reward

 

Job 22:6 For you have taken pledges from your brother for no reason, And stripped the naked of their clothing. 7 You have not given the weary water to drink, And you have withheld bread from the hungry. 8 But the mighty man possessed the land, And the honorable man dwelt in it. 9 You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed. 10 Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you, 11 Or darkness so that you cannot see; And an abundance of water covers you.

 

Eliphaz continues to level false charges against Job. (1) He accuses him of taking advantage of the unfortunate. (Taking pledges for no reason) (2) He saw the poor and didn’t lift a finger to clothe them. (3) He denied refreshment to those who needed it. (4) He didn’t provide bread for the hungry. (5) He denied aid to the widow who came to him for help, and (6) left the orphans to fend for themselves. On the other hand, (7) he fawned over the well to do and those who had their act together.

 

Eliphaz is correct in saying that these attitudes and actions are not fitting for the children of God! But he wrongly accuses the “righteous” Job of being guilty of them all. He uses this “supposed” guilt of Job, to explain all the troubles that have come his way.

 

Anyone who has read their Bible, will have to admit that the cause of the poor is important to God. Let me share a few of those verses with you today, and let us allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us through these words:

 

Isa 58:10 If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday.

Lacking Holy Spirit guidance in your life? Looking for answers from God? Have you tried extending your heart to the poor?

 

Ps 41:1 “Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”

Do you feel like you are drowning in the pressures that life brings your way? (“an abundance of water covers you?” )Have you considered helping the poor?

 

Pr 22:22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate; 23 For the LORD will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

 

Gripped by fear? Is your soul being plundered of joy? Maybe you should consider helping the poor!

 

Jesus reminds us in Mt 26:11 that we will always have the poor with us: "For you have the poor with you always,”

 

Why is that? God could wipe out poverty with the snap of his fingers! But the poor are with us, so that we can get a glimpse into the heart and compassion of God.  In short, the poor give us opportunity to be like Jesus!

 

Giving to the poor is one of the wisest investments you’ll make this side of heaven. Pr 19:17 reminds us: “He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given, “(Talk about a win/win investment!)

And in Lu 14:13,14 we read, “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.  14 "And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just."  (Payback is on the way!) Mt 10:42 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."

Let us not, allow these promises to be snatched away from us from the devil and our love of money.  Today! Now! While it is still light, let us sincerely ask God what we can do to help the poor that HE brings our way. Then let’s do it! As a Christ follower giving to the poor has great reward! Mt 10:42 "And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward."