Subject: Giving and Poverty - Proverbs 28

Proverbs 28:27 (ESV Strong's)
Whoever gives to the poor will not want,
but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

Subject:  Giving & Poverty

God loves the poor.  He expects us to love the poor, as well.   The above proverb gives us two truths to believe and act upon in regard to today's dilemma with poverty.   The first is that we are to be giving and there are benefits for such actions.   We think if we give our wealth, time or resources away we lose.  But, God states we will not lose, but rather God will bless us.  It should be noted that this does not mean if we give $10 we get $20 back.  What it means is that God will bring into our lives a sense of peace and lack of "wanting."   We won't become poor ourselves.  That doesn't mean we will become richer.   It doesn't even mean we will have the same level as before.   It simple means what it says: We won't want.   God can and will take away our own inward needs when we give.  We won't want. The second truth is as equally motivating.  When we close our eyes to the poor, we ignore them and don't care for them, we will putting our lives in line of many curses.   Not just a few!   God sees those who don't see poverty and need.   He doesn't hold us responsible for what we don't to see.   He does hold us responsible for what we refuse to see.  We can't simply observe the poverty and do nothing.  We can give to our church and ask our church to distribute to the poor.  But, that does not give us the privilege of refusing to see what is right in front of us.