“Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.”
– Proverbs 21:13
It would be difficult to count the number of times and ways that God makes clear in the Bible that as His people we must have tender hearts and generous spirits toward the poor. We’re called to be abundantly merciful and gracious toward those in need. We’re called to be the presence, hands, and feet of Christ to those without. We’re called to be illogical, irrational, and over the top in mercy. This is God’s heart and we’re called to reflect His heart, not our own logic or opinion.
The reason for this is quite simple. We are each spiritual beggars crying out to God for mercy and charity. We have separated ourselves from Him by our sin, humiliating, degrading, and debasing ourselves. We are incapable of cleaning ourselves up and getting back into right relationship to Him.
Despite the fact that we are irresponsible, undeserving, filthy spiritual beggars, God‘s love and mercy are so vast that He sent His Son Jesus into our world to take our sin, guilt, and shame upon Himself at the cross. Because He did, all who believe in Him are cleaned up, stood up, embraced, and adopted by God. In Christ we’re no longer spiritual beggars, but adopted children of the King of the Universe.
God has shown us mercy to us in our deepest need and He expects us to be likewise overflowing in mercy and generosity toward those in need.