About the poor

About the poor
In the book of Leviticus we read,
" ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest.  
Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God." Leviticus 19: 9,10.
Leaving the fruit that had fallen and not going to the very edge of the field or not going over the field a second time left food for the poor to eat.
As one of my friends said it was perhaps the earliest recorded social safety net.
God wants us to look out for each other. It goes back to what Jesus said,
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” Matthew 7:12.
We should to the best of our ability be looking out for those who are less fortunate around us. There are many reasons people are poor. Many reasons people are on the street. Everything from simply not being able to earn enough money to rent a home, to drug addiction, to mental illness and more.
Why they are on the street, or poor, or taking drugs, should be of no concern to true believers in Christ Jesus. To true Christians.
As Billy Graham the American evangelist put it,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                            Billy Graham

It is our job as far as possible to love and help those in need in the name of Christ Jesus.
Jesus said,
"The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25:40
Thus my question to you; are you doing what you can when you can for those less fortunate?
Can you do more?
Please think about it.

A warning to the Rich and Powerful

A warning to the Rich and Powerful
Jesus told this story,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.  
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores  and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. 
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.  
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.  
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ 
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.  
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ 
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,  
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ 
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ 
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ 
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31
The Jesus and indeed all the gospel writers talked about relationships. About ones relationship with God and with ones relationship with ones fellow man.
In the above scripture Jesus tells of a rich man who could have made a difference in a poor man’s life. He could have shown compassion on the poor man. Given him something to eat, but chose not to.
This rich man seems to have ignored or not believed in God. He certainly didn’t believe he would face consequences for his actions. 
Jesus who said,
"Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31.
By not helping the poor man and letting him suffer he was in a sense saying that’s how he wanted to be treated. Which is what happened according to the story Jesus told.
In the next life he was suffering while the poor man was at peace.
This story should serve as a warning to anyone in a position of power. Anyone who has the ability to help those in need.
It is saying while you may enjoy the good life here in this world. While you may disregard the needs of the poor and not help them. You will be held accountable when you stand before God.
Please think about it.