VERSE:
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
— Proverb 21:13
THOUGHT:
How many of our prayers are focused on our own wants and needs? How often does God hear you cry out for the needs of others? This scripture is a reminder to have a mind like Christ who neglected His entitlement for the needs of the world. I heard a statistic that Americans can feed something like 8 million people just by the food that we waste; that doesn’t include the food that we overeat. $35 will sponsor a child in Africa providing him or her with food, clothing and education for a whole month; yet we really want that $1000 plasma screen so we can watch Christian TV in high-def. If we keep information like this at the forefront of our thinking, we would probably spend our money in a completely different way. If we turn a deaf ear to the cry of the poor, God does not listen to our cries.
APPLICATION:
Think about the needs of the poor that are in the world. Think about the needs that are in our own communities. Take a moment to pray, but also make intentional decisions to help the poor. A little a lot will change lives forever.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, forgive me for selfishly neglecting the needs of others. I pray that your mercy would be extended to the needs of the poor in our communities, in our nation, and in the world. Help me always remember them in my giving, and I thank you for blessing me to be a blessing. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!