Text: Prov 28:27 (ESV)

27 Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

GIVING TO THE POOR

Caring for the weak and needy is following God's will. “ Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.” (Prov 14:31 ). This is one reason that those who are generous are more likely to succeed than those who are entitled and stingy. “One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.” (Prov 11:24 ; 28:22 ,25). This is contrasted with those who claim they didn't know about the needs of others, when they're simply choosing to look the other way (Prov 21:13 ; 24:11 –12). The Lord, even most men, look favorably on those who are generous. But, greedy people are looked down on. (Prov 11:26 ; 28:3).

Generosity reflects a godly spirit. “Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.” (Prov 14:21 ) In the Law God gave to Israel, He told farmers not to harvest fields right up to the edge or strip their vineyards bare. They were to leave some of the wheat and the fallen grapes for the poor and those travelling (Lev 19:9–10). When Naomi returned from Moab to Bethlehem, she was a widow, and was accompanied by her widowed daughter-in-law Ruth. Naomi had a relative of her late husband who was a righteous man. His name was Boaz, and he was a farmer. He was also very generous. Seeing Ruth following the reapers in his field and gleaning after them, Boaz instructed his reapers to let Ruth follow behind them to get the most possible grain. He also provided her with water and food (Ruth 2).

Let us not close our eyes to the needy. For “whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.” (Prov 19:17 )

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