Walking with the Wise #159: Helping the Helpless

“The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.”
—Proverbs 13:23

Following Christ means loving God and loving man. And loving man has many different elements involved. Loving our neighbor means making sure that we show the amount of care for him that is fitting for one made in the image of God. But it goes further. God wants us to take care of the poor, the widow, and the immigrant, as He commanded the Israelites:

“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner, therefore, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt”—Deuteronomy 10:17-19.

God wants us to deal fairly with all men, taking special care to help those who do not have access to the needed care and resources that we do. Our understanding and seeking of justice is not separated from our love for God; instead it is intricately interwoven with it. As Micah wrote,

“He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?”

 —Micah 6:8.

God delights in us seeking justice for others. In today’s passage, we see that the poor have the opportunity to eat, be satisfied, and possibly become wealthy, or at least self-sufficient—but it is because of injustice that they are taken advantage of. Our goal is to make sure that injustice does not occur. We seek to help the poor, the widow, the fatherless, and the immigrant. And in doing so, we show our love for God.

Do you know of someone who needs your help today? Someone for whom you can intercede? Who is it that God wants you to stand up for? Don’t wait; do it today and you will experience the joy of knowing that you are doing what God delights in. Amen.