God has a bias towards the poor. The question is: who are you biased towards? If your biased towards the things and people God is biased towards you'll naturally care about the things God cares about.
The story of Joseph is about God rescuing his people from poverty/famine so that they didn't become destitute.
The reason God gives to his people on how and why they should make provision for the poor is because he is the gracious and compassionate one. It's for this reason that he reminds them regularly to not forgot where they've come from as slaves.
God has to tell his people to 'show mercy' often in the scriptures, it's as though it doesn't come naturally to us.
God is a merciful God. From the way he deals with undeserving people to the very principle of jubilee.
'There is a poverty of hope as well as a poverty of possessions.'Mephibosheth & the younger son. One 'deserving' of mercy one 'undeserving' and yet both welcomed by God and shown great kindness and mercy.
'God treats people not based on their behaviour but based on who he is.'Jesus heals first and asks questions later. What should go on in our hearts first and foremost should be 'how can I show the kindness of God to this person?'
'If we take the time to hear people's stories we will feel more compassion toward them.'Probably some of the people in contemporary Britain that we're most afraid of are exactly the people we should be getting to know.
If muslims are despised in our society it should be Christians who are up there defending them and speaking up on their behalf.
'There comes a point when we need to stop just pulling people out of the river and we need to start asking why they're falling in.' - Desmond TutuElizabeth Fry - aged 18 started collecting food for the poor and then started Sunday schools to teach children from poor neighbourhoods, to read.
Gain all you can so you can give all you can. - John WesleyWe should be the most encouraging of the society's leaders. If the only time your politicians or police officers or teachers/headteachers hear from you is when you want to complain they're less likely to want to listen to you. Jer. 29 'seek the welfare of the city that I've sent you into exile, pray to the Lord on its behalf.'
Find out what the will of god is for your generation and your day and then as quickly as possible get into line. - Prince AlbertTo grow in generosity you need to be intentional about it.
A poor fund. Natalie has a separate bank account that she puts money aside to each month so that when she meets someone in need, she has the money available to buy them something/to offer them help.
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