Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.
As I read many such verses in the Word of God I am astonished at how those in the Church can neglect the very principals of God and His Word. I have heard some say – the poor are not our assignment. To which I say if you think your assignment is greater than the Lords, whose assignment are you playing out.
I am not saying that we all become a homeless ministry, open a food pantry ( actually the House of God should have a store house from which Gods people are feed in times of need) yet they must hear and obey the Lords command in regard to the poor.
I could care less if you are in the top 1% of the most requested Pastoral speakers, if you are neglecting the ministry to the poor, you are out of alignment with Gods Kingdom message.
You can go to churches across the land or turn on the TV to a Christian show and listen to all kinds of messages about God blessing His people, God is raising up Millionaires in our body, give here because God wants to increase your wealth. Yet when it comes to the poor, we are only hearing ” Well Jesus said the poor will always be with us”. Yes He did say that, but to twist it into such a perverse statement meaning we are not to minister to the poor, to give to the poor is way outside of what the Lord has truly taught us. Look at what God really says in this regard:
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land”. (Deuteronomy 15:11)
Many “churches” to day are more concerned about the building project than the poor in the community or for that matter the poor within their own congregation. They resemble what was spoken of in Ezek :
Ezekiel 16:49
” ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.
Instead of listening to the counsel of the Lord in His Word :
He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD.(Jeremiah 22:16)
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.(Deuteronomy 15:7)
Then we have such ministries who refuse to give to the poor – or they will give a round the Holidays to make it look good. Then they wonder why their ministry is always in financial turmoil, or the members of their church or ministry are always under attack and struggling. Number one the people are failing to study the Word themselves and are living on the watered down opinionated version of Gods truth – a lacking of spiritual vitamins. Their leaders will tell the people, lets press through, this is only the enemy coming against us because we are invading his land, Half truths!
Never once taking in to consideration what the Father has decreed over those who take from the people, putting it into His Storehouse, yet spending it on their dreams and aspirations instead of feeding Gods people and those in our gates. Gods storehouse is for the needs of the people, for those going forth carrying the Kingdom Message not for building projects to leave monuments unto men.. In the days of old when the temple was a building made with hands, there was a portion set aside for the up keep, yet there was also a portion for those in need. In our day often times upto 90% of that which comes in goes to the building expense, not to the missionaries, not to the needy and surely not into the storehouse for Gods people.
Today anyone in need has to come begging for help and often times will be told, we have not set anything aside for such things. And again you wonder why you struggle, why the people are sick, depressed and oppressed. Look again what the Word has pronounced over you and this is not an Old Testament thing that passed away and is now covered by grace:
He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.( Proverbs 28:27)
The poor are mentioned all through the Bible and not in a manner that calls us to turn our back on them:
Arise, LORD ! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. — Psalm 10:12
You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall.(Isaiah 25:4)
The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. (Acts 10:5)
“After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. (Acts 24:17)
For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. (Romans 15:26)
As it is written: “He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:9)
The storehouse of God is being robbed in our day and it is not only in reference to those who are not giving into it – it is also because the keepers are plundering the Storehouses and building empires, getting fat themselves with big houses and such and then hide behind such things as does not the Lord want His people to prosper? Yes He does, yet that which the Lord refers to in reference to prosperity and that which the world views as prosperity are two different views.
It is a plague upon the House of God in this and other Nations that is not un-noticed in Heaven – The Lord is in the process of a mighty house cleaning, He is emptying those things which have attracted dust and dirt, those things which have left a stain upon His Sons name. He is removing and replacing many the Gate -keepers and the guards watching the doors of His storehouse because they have sold-out to the world.
This is a place that the House of God in this Nation needs to repent for, because it has plundered the Store House of Billions of dollars in the recent decades and build up worldly processions while the whole time neglecting the treasures of Heaven. They have played the part of the harlot and God is removing the adulterous spirit from His house in our day.
In the Masters Service,
Russ W
Radical Disciples - A Remnant Revolution 