Hear and Respond

Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13

At this time of year there are a lot of different organisations and charities who endeavour to do a little bit extra for those who find themselves in difficult circumstances. People are generous all year round but there is something about Christmas that seems to take generosity to a different level. It can get a bit overwhelming though as you try to decide whether to support the City Mission, Operation Christmas Child, the Prison Fellowship hamper appeal, the Salvation Army or the Belfast Homeless Service shoebox appeal, to name but a very few. The need is so great and goes far beyond Christmas.

You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land. Deuteronomy 15:11

The poor and vulnerable hold a very special place in God’s heart, and his instruction for us to care for them couldn’t be any clearer. When something is this important to Him, it should be equally important to us. None of us would like to find ourselves in poverty of any kind, but if we did, it would be devastating to call out for help and not be heard. Throughout the Bible, God directs us towards the vulnerable – He wants us to see them; He wants us to hear them, and respond.

It really doesn’t matter which charity, cause, family or individual we decide to support, it only matters that we obey the command of God to open our hand and our heart to those in need.