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How We Should Treat The Poor

Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Those who are born of God (quickened by the Spirit) are born of GRACE. People born of GRACE are GRACIOUS. God’s people are not stingy nor greedy. The eighth commandment, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15) and the tenth commandment “You shall not covet” (Exodus 20:17) address greed and stinginess. God equated stinginess to theft. He told Israel,

Malachi 3:8-10 (NKJV) “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, [Even] this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE, And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you [such] blessing That [there will] not [be room] enough [to receive it].

When a people like Israel – born of the Grace of God – becomes greedy and will not give, then it brings a curse on that people. God wanted His people to give “THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE”. Was God Himself hungry? No. But giving to God’s house gives to those in need. The money that comes into this Church supports missionaries, who carry the Gospel where we cannot go. Our Operation Christmas Child boxes that we fill each year go to poor and needy children who otherwise would not have a Christmas. Through Samaritan’s Purse the Gospel is shared with these children. The food we carry out to the homeless feeds them, and as we distribute food we pray with them.

If God has blessed you, then you should bless others!

Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a BOUNTIFUL EYE {ṭôḇ ʿayin} shall be blessed…

Word Study: The words “BOUNTIFUL EYE” is the Hebrew ṭôḇ ʿayin, which means “a good, pleasant, or agreeable eye”. What we do, that is, what drives our hands, enters in through the eye. The Bible says before Adam and Eve sinned, that “the woman SAW that the tree was good for food” (Genesis 3:6). When Adam SAW Eve eat the fruit without effect, then He ate. What does the Bible say next? “The EYES of them both were opened” (Genesis 3:7). The devil works through the EYES first, then he leads us into disobedience.

When we LOOK at someone in need, we are to have “GOOD EYES”. Some people do not give to those in need because they LOOK at them and make judgments. Thank God that Jesus didn’t look at what messes we were and make judgments. Thank God that “WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, Christ DIED FOR US” (Romans 5:8). God looked at us, and saw our impoverished states, and yet gave an infinite price for us. Let us LOOK at the poor with good eyes, with eyes toward grace, not worth.

Proverbs 22:9 for he GIVETH OF HIS BREAD to the poor.

When Jesus preached about the Rich man and Lazarus, WHY DID THE RICH MAN GO TO HELL? Because his heart was not filled with grace toward the poor.

Jesus preached, in Luke 16:19-21 (ESV) There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who DESIRED TO BE FED with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

Word Study: The rich man had bread a plenty. Yet what of Lazarus? He “DESIRED TO BE FED”. The word “DESIRED” is the Greek epithymeō, which means “he LONGED TO BE FED”. Lazarus was hungry, and the rich man would not even give him the crumbs from his table. He let the dogs eat, but not Lazarus. The Christ follower, the person who is “quickened” or made alive by the Word of God (Psalm 119:50; 119:93; Ephesians 2:1) and by the Spirit of God looks on the poor with a generous eye. Consider this:

God didn’t even care to know the name of the rich man
– but He knew Lazarus!

Proverbs 22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, SHALL SURELY COME TO WANT.

Some who are rich only give to the rich, to those who may benefit them, but not to those in need. God promises that they “SHALL SURELY COME TO WANT”. The stepbrother of Christ wrote:

James 5:1-6 (NKJV) Come now, [you] rich, weep and howl for YOUR MISERIES THAT ARE COMING UPON YOU! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed THE WAGES OF THE LABORERS WHO MOWED YOUR FIELD, WHICH YOU KEPT BACK BY FRAUD, CRY OUT; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

The rich hoard wealth while others suffer in poverty. The rich often cheat workers of their right wages, while living in luxury. Several years ago I worked for a man who paid slave wages, but gave his children lavish gifts for their birthdays and on Christmas. God watched. God says that not the workers, but “THE WAGES OF THE LABORERS WHO MOWED YOUR FIELD, WHICH YOU KEPT BACK BY FRAUD, CRY OUT”. The wages that were hoard cry out to God. God will judge. God did judge this man. He died of pancreatic cancer, and his business is no more. A payday comes someday. Who knows if this man’s life was shortened by his greed? His estate still owes me two week’s wages, which I forgave – but those wages cried out! I often wonder if, when this man died, if he were like the rich man of Luke 16. If so, it was brought on himself!

Proverbs 22:22-23 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted IN THE GATE: 23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and SPOIL THE SOUL OF THOSE THAT SPOILED THEM.

Word Study: “THE GATE”. In the ancient world there was widespread lawlessness. Traveling bands of thieves and mercenaries would come on unprotected cities, and rob inhabitants. Because of this the larger cities would be walled around, protected. The gates of the city were only opened during daylight hours, and here people would enter the city to do business.Parents would take their rebellious children to the gate to be judged:

Deuteronomy 21:18-19 (ESV) If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them, 19 then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city AT THE GATE OF THE PLACE WHERE HE LIVES

At the “GATE” was where justice and fair business was to be transacted. If the “GATE” was corrupted, the city was usually corrupted. The poor and disadvantaged were to be treated with respect at the “GATE”.

The Bible warns that “God will SPOIL THE SOUL OF THOSE THAT SPOILED THEM”. What does it mean to “SPOIL THE SOUL”? The greedy have no peace within. God will rob the rich who do so, and they will find no pleasure in what the took wrongly.

How We Should Treat Troublemakers

Proverbs 22:10 CAST OUT THE SCORNER, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

Word Study: The Bible does not tell us to put up with troublemakers. It tells us to “CAST OUT THE SCORNER”. The sentence “CAST OUT THE SCORNER” is but two words in the Hebrew, gāraš lûṣ. Gāraš literally means “to drive away or drive out” (Piel Imperative, this is a COMMAND). Lûṣ means “the mocker or one who belittles others”. God places a premium on unity within a family, a community, a Church, or a country. God tells us to “love our enemies” by “doing good toward them who do bad toward us” …

Matthew 5:44 (NKJV) But I say to you, love your enemies, BLESS those who curse you, DO GOOD to those who hate you, and PRAY for those who spitefully use you and persecute you …

However, in our midst we are to have zero tolerance for troublemakers. Troublemakers are magnets for other troublemakers. For instance, let’s consider the recent “No Kings Marches”. The BBC tells us that “Millions turned out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ protests across US”. They estimate that 7 million people turned out for the event. The media has blown this up, inflating it. But let’s put it in perspective:

Population of U.S. = 342,034,432 million
No Kings marchers = 7 million
Percent of U.S. = 2% marched

Let me say a few BIBLICAL things about the “No Kings Marches”. First of all, they are foolish. If President Trump – regardless as to what you think of him – was a King, you wouldn’t be allowed to march and protest. If we were under an authoritarian leadership, like Kings used to be, then it would be like the movie “Braveheart”. Kings had absolute authority, and could ruin your family, or kill you with impunity. Oh, how I wanted to like the movie Braveheart, but I hated it! It portrayed the 13^th Century wars of Scottish Independence, led by Scottish Noble William Wallace. Wallace fought against the English occupiers under King Edward I. I didn’t like the movie because William Wallace (portrayed by Mel Gibson) died horribly at the end.

If President Trump were a King, there would have been no protest. 2% of America would not have pranced around and danced like fools, instead of doing something CONSTRUCTIVE. What should they have been doing? Well, if you are a CHRISTIAN, you are told:

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV) Therefore I exhort first of all that SUPPLICATIONS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSIONS, AND GIVING OF THANKS BE MADE FOR ALL MEN, 2 FOR KINGS AND ALL WHO ARE IN AUTHORITY, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For THIS IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE SIGHT OF GOD OUR SAVIOR, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if 2% of our population had come out to PRAY FOR the President? But no, they came out to dance and show off silly signs. I had the same problem during the Obama and Biden administrations. Professing Christians were going around saying “That’s not MY President”. Though you might not have agreed with their policies, the Bible says:

Romans 13:1-3 (NKJV) Let EVERY SOUL BE SUBJECT TO THE GOVERNING AUTHORITIES. For there is NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD, and the AUTHORITIES THAT EXIST ARE APPOINTED BY GOD. 2 Therefore WHOEVER RESISTS THE AUTHORITY RESISTS THE ORDINANCE OF GOD, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.

We may not agree with whoever is President, but God has established our government with checks and balances. Troublemakers do nothing to help anyone. No one! When the Apostle wrote Romans 13 under the inspiration of God’s Spirit, he was imprisoned by Rome. Paul would eventually be beheaded as a traitor to Rome. Yet he encouraged the believer in Christ to obey the authorities as God ordained – insofar as they do not blatantly go against the clearly revealed Word of God.

What is revealing about troublemakers and the “No Kings” movement is that they have no real idea why they are doing what they do.

I saw numerous reporters go out into the crowds of the 2% of marchers, and ask “Why do you say the President is acting like a King? Why do you say, specifically, that he and his administration is ‘fascist’?” No one could say. Most responded with “He’s acting like a King”, but when asked specifics they could not answer. Troublemakers do not know WHY they are doing what they are doing.

Proverbs 22:10 CAST OUT THE SCORNER, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.

God’s solution is this: We are to DO GOOD toward our enemies, toward people we do not agree with. We are to PRAY FOR our leadership. And we are to DRIVE OUT those who are troublemakers. Beloved, I say this with all my heart and love …. especially troublemakers in the Church. God’s Word tells us:

Ephesians 4:1-4 (NKJV) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to WALK WORTHY OF THE CALLING with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE, 3 endeavoring to KEEP THE UNITY of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 [There is] one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling

Avoid The Lazy (And Don’t Be Lazy)

Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, THERE IS A LION WITHOUT, I shall be slain in the streets.

This is very humorous, but well put (of course, for God wrote it). A lazy person is useless. What good comes of saying, “THERE IS A LION WITHOUT”? This is what the network news does today. It reports things that are frightening, or so they think, but offers no solutions. Listen to me, Beloved. If “THERE IS A LION WITHOUT”, what good does hand wringing do? What do we DO to fix the lion situation? Cry about it? If you believe “I shall be slain in the streets”, then the least you can do is stay inside. The lion can’t reach you inside. But after a while, you need to come out to get food and water. So here’s the question:

What do YOU DO?
What can YOU DO to fix the lion situation?

When I was in the military I was taught by my commanders to not bring them a problem without bringing a suggested solution.

What do we DO about the lion? What do I DO about the lion? I have to do better than hide in my house. Here’s a few solutions. (1) Only go outside during the daylight hours, as lions are ambush predators. If you can see it coming, you can avoid it. (2) Once outside, head to a gun store, and get the biggest most powerful gun I can afford. Get plenty of ammo in case I miss the first time. Then shoot the lion when I see it. (3) If guns are illegal in my city, move to a city that is run by people with common sense. Leave California and New York City. Get to Tennessee where it is legal to carry. “Tennessee law allows for permitless handgun carry (openly or concealed) for eligible individuals 21 and older as of July 1, 2021, though there are still restrictions on where firearms can be carried. The state prohibits carrying firearms in certain locations like schools, courthouses, and polling places.” (4) Learn to shoot your gun, or make friends with someone who knows how to shoot a gun and carries one. (5) Buy extra food so you can feed the lion daily. Well fed lions don’t eat humans. (6) If you feel that it is immoral to kill a wandering and murderous lion, make friends with some you can outrun. Lions usually get the slower prey. Do you get the point?

Quit complaining, and ask yourself, “what can I DO about the lion situation to make the lion situation go away”

Proverbs 22:29 Seest thou a man DILIGENT {māhîr} in his business? he shall stand before KINGS; he shall not stand before MEAN {ḥāšōḵ} men.

Word Study: Interesting that we are coming back to “KINGS” once more. The word rendered “DILIGENT” is the Hebrew māhîr, which means “skilled, ready, prompt, quick”. When 2% of America marched in the middle of the day the thought came to my mind, “Don’t they have jobs?” I have a job. I have something I do every day. I stay busy at what my job is. You stay out of trouble if you stay busy. The word translated “MEAN” is the Hebrew ḥāšōḵ, which means “obscure, insignificant, low or trashy people”.

God has made you with a talent. He has gifted you with abilities. You need to keep honing your abilities, and keep seeking what God has made you for. When you stay diligent in doing and minding YOUR OWN BUSINESS and YOUR OWN LIFE rather than run about trying to please others who cannot be pleased, then God will help you reach your potential. Lazy people never fix anything, but make everything worse. Lazy people never reach their God given life. Lazy people settle, like garbage, into the bottom of the pot. But those who focus on EXCELLENCE, who focus on BEING LIKE GOD CALLED US TO BE, these people never find themselves in a crowd of obscure, insignificant people.

Treat Loose People Like A Dangerous Pit

Proverbs 22:14 The MOUTH OF A STRANGE WOMAN IS A DEEP PIT: he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.

I received a text (not the first time) where someone sent, “Who is this?” Though I don’t usually text, I sent back “This is David B”. Here’s what I got back:

“Hi David (smiley face), nice to meet you! I’m Elena – I’m from Lithuania but I live in New York now. How about you? Where are you from? Maybe I’ve been to your city before”.

I did NOT reply except with one word, “STOP”. Be careful who you make friends with. Be careful on Facebook, X, or one of the Social Media outlets. The devil is trolling. The devil disguises some of his finest demons with lipstick and short dresses, with muscular arms and a he man outlook. Be careful. The “MOUTH OF A STRANGE WOMAN IS A DEEP PIT”. The ancient Mariners warned of a Siren, a dangerous half bird half woman who would lure sailors to their deaths with enchanted songs. Open up your Bibles and listen to God’s Word. Solomon learned that the prettiest women can contain, like a snake, the most venom. The best advise is what I end with:

Proverbs 22:17-21 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. 19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. 20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, 21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?

Avoid the pits. Follow the Lord Jesus and His Word. Amen!