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Helping the Poor.

 Someone asked me recently to what extent do we help the homeless if we choose to invite them into our homes. Let’s assume you have a home, and that you are the owner of that home first! I want to quote Isaiah 58:6-7 “Is not this the fast that I choose:

    to loose the bonds of wickedness,
    to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
    and to break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” 


And Isaiah 58:10-12 “if you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.

And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.

And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
    the restorer of streets to dwell in.”


Clearly, God wants us to help the homeless to the best of our ability. We should not be afraid to do this, because the Lord promises us he will bless us in return. The same person also said that there must be a limit in helping the poor because if we help them too much, they might become dependent on us, and loose the ability to help themselves. While we help the poor I believe, we shouldn’t do it to get anything back in return from them, some people need a little help, and others need a lot of help, to answer this question, we need to practice what Jesus Christ taught us in the gospels “Do unto others as you would have done unto you.” (Matthew 7:12) If you feel there is a limit in helping the needy, remember you are helping Jesus Christ himself, and I would say in conclusion, make sure you are not trying to justify yourself by closing the door to them by withholding something that you can actually provide for them. This is Mike.


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