In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living
  • Home
  • Media
  • About
  • Contact
  • Blog- Gratitude
Connect, Tweet, Link!

Are U Rich?

8/15/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

“For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shall open your hand wide unto your brother, to the poor, and to the needy, in your land.”  Deuteronomy 15:11


In an interview a few years ago, American comedian Chris Rock said, “–Someone called me rich! Rich?  –Uh-uh, I’m not a basketball player; or, a football player, or a baseball player!  –They’re not even rich! –Rich, is the guy who writes their checks!”

Have you ever wondered what separates newly homeless people from the average middle-income adult? Continue reading while you give the answer some thought. 

Most people have no understanding of what it means to be truly poor due to outlying circumstances.  We see it; we hear about it; yet, we ignore it. Why? –Because, our understanding of the word “poor” primarily has to do with how well we can actually afford to live. We base it on whether we can afford a new car, designer clothing, evenings out, or quite possibly, for example, the ability to purchase groceries without really caring about the price. We stretch our disposable income to prove that we are not poor; or at least, not as poor as the person next door.  Poor becomes relative; it depends on who you are talking to, and more importantly, whom the comparison is with. 

Wealth, of course, is also relative. The Bible says, the poor shall never cease out of the land. Yet the truth is, we really don’t like to acknowledge people who are “poorer-than-us;” because, deep-down we know that “there, by the Grace of God, go I” every time we look at them. The homeless, the desolate, the desperate; they make us angry and sometimes a little defensive. We wonder how they got themselves into it, and know deep down in our core that it can never happen to us.  Oh? -Never?  –Have you answered the opening question as yet?   Read it once more.

Economists say that if you currently live from paycheck to paycheck, and have neglected to save at least 6 months to a year of your salary to maintain your household bills, you, more than likely, can fall victim to homelessness. If you lose your job, and do not find another before your savings or unemployment checks run out, you too can be homeless. It does not matter if you are white collar, blue collar, or no-collar, it can still happen.

–So, the reason that we pay close attention to the directive in Deuteronomy 15:11  is because, “There, by the Grace of God, go I, you, us, we!”   We give because we can. We give because it’s right.  But, more importantly, we give because if we are ever in the same circumstances, we pray that someone will have mercy on us!  L.

Study Reference: Deuteronomy 15:10-15, Zechariah 7:9-13 
Excerpt from: "Acknowledging Wealth? Are U Rich? " In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions For Everyday Living. Copyright © 2014 by Lavona E. Campbell
photo: istock

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    In The Master's Hands: 365 Daily Devotions for Everyday Living

    -Daily Posts

    Welcome to the ITMH blog. Here you can interact with me each day regarding  the devotionals found in the book if you are not on Facebook.  Write something about yourself in relation to the daily. No need to be fancy, just be honest. I'll do the same.  It will be interesting to see how different people, with varying experiences react to the same daily. 

    And, in the way of The Master, please remember to be congenial.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.