Turning Away

“By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.  But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” (1 John 3:16-18 ESV).

 There are a number of reasons people will use to turn away from the poor, the unfortunate and the needy.  There are number of reasons governments or other entities will turn away from those appealing to them for support or refuge from oppression or poverty.

     Rationale, arguments and philosophies against helping others are not new.  In the Old Testament Law, God’s people were instructed to remember the sojourner, the poor, the widows and the fatherless.  To help the poor, the sojourner, the widow and the fatherless is not some kind of isolated directive from a immune spiritual leader but an  purposeful course of action that directly reflects the Living God that sees, loves and remembers all including those unseen or rejected by the world.  To not help, give and support the poor, the sojourner, the widow and the fatherless reflects selfishness, bigotry and arrogance but nothing about it reflects a loving Father God or the living image of Him in the Jesus Christ the Son.

    The guidance, admonishments and directives in the Scriptures are strong and often to never forget this aspect of true faith.  From the patriarchs, prophets, the psalmists, the apostles to the very Son of God … believers and followers of God have countless reminders to love, serve and give in grace as God have given unto them.  Inaction and failure to give reflects indifference. In the case of turning away from the poor, it is not just indifference to the poor but to God Himself. 

“Whose name is the LORD, and exult before Him. A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, Is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely; He leads out the prisoners into prosperity, Only the rebellious dwell in a parched land…” (Psalm 68:4-6 NIV).

Suggested Bible Reading 1 John 3