Fountains of Wisdom- Part 35—Poverty, Wealth and the Sovereignty of God
There is a lot to be said in the Bible about poverty—from the laws given to the Israelite nation, the Proverbs and the teachings of Jesus. God’s laws carried many instructions as to how to help the poor by allowing them to harvest behind the harvesters and through compassion to help those who are less fortunate. We have the sermon of Jesus noted in Luke,
“20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.”
Then we come to Proverbs 19 where once more there is noted a lot to say about the poor. The lazy are condemned for their laziness (verses 15, 24); yet, there are those who are poor to no fault of laziness and God’s word is clear that His people are to help the poor. Look at verse 17: (GNV) He that hath mercy upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord: and the Lord will recompense him that which he hath given.
There is a lot to say in Chapter 19 about the poor and how they are rejected by their neighbors, ignored and looked down upon; while the rich have many
friends following after them waiting for whatever gifts might befall them. In my lifetime, I have known financial wealth and I have known poverty. There are times that I have worked three jobs, diligently and times when chemotherapy or surgery halted my ability to work. Throughout the years, compassion always led to my giving away much of what I have had to give to others. Some of the most difficult moments for me are those in which I cannot display generosity because I have no money to give or to generously help someone else. That is the desert I find myself in now and when I peer into heaven; I ask why? Are you there with me? In this financial tumult that surrounds us and the economic crisis that belongs to the world we are in; have you found yourself suddenly crushed beneath the weight of it? You look into heaven and cry out, as though some injustice has been done—after all, you were the one who helped the poor, you gave your tithes, and you worked hard—so why are you now the one in this state of financial ruin. Foolish thoughts, those thoughts that God should owe me anything—trust and faith remembers like Hannah in her prayer that God is Sovereign and in control of all things.
I Samuel 2: (GNV) “1 And Hannah [a]prayed, and said, Mine heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine [b]horn is exalted my mouth is[c]enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2 There is none holy as the Lord: yea, there is none besides thee, and there is no god like our God.
….7 The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich: bringeth low, and exalteth.”
God is in control and God has a plan. One of the lessons that I am struggling with; but need to learn is that found here. Without money to give to others, what can I offer my friends; or without money to give gifts to my children—I feel inadequate or insufficient. Is there anything within me that I can give? Ah, yes, certainly I can give them the greatest gift of all–I can give them Christ. I can like Paul say that, “As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” Is there any treasure greater than to point them to Christ?
Listen to this song by Chris Tomlin—Sovereign
1599 Geneva Bible (GNV)
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