Bible Reading: Psalm 109:1- 31
“For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul” – Psalm 109:31(KJV).
God is the defender of the poor. In a world of selfishness and greed the poor suffer terribly in the hand of the rich. The poor is discriminated against as if he is a less being. They are used by the rich as they please. They work like elephant and eat like ants. They do the hardest work and earn the least wages. Their labour and sweat build the mansions where the rich live in splendour. They are oppressed by the greedy rich as against the command of God… “Thou shalt not oppressed an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates” – Deut 24:14(KJV).
God’s commandment concerning the poor is to deal with them kindly and with open hands. “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land” – Deut. 15:11(KJV). The bible says that God will stand at the right hand of the poor to save him from the wicked oppressor. God standing at the right hand means God empowering the poor by lifting him up. It is in God’s power to make poor and to make rich (1 Samuel 2:7).
God watches over the poor, to ensure that the oppressor does not overburden them. God is against him that oppresses the poor and he fights for them by resisting the rich and the proud. In some instances God lifts the poor to the place of authority and wealth. David was almost an abandoned shepherd boy who became the King of Israel. Joseph was a prisoner-slave that was lifted to the position of a Prime Minister. I have always wondered what will be Potiphar and his adulterous wife’s state of mind on hearing of Joseph’s appointment. Hear what Gideon said “And he said unto him, Oh my Lord wherewith shall I save Israel? Behold my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” -Judges 6:15(KJV). God has the power to lift the poor to a place of enthronement. “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifted the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even the princes of his people” -Psalm 113:7-8(KJV). Whosoever oppresses the poor is in direct conflict with God, for God fights for them. Be mindful of your attitude towards the poor. Follow scriptural injunction when relating with the poor.
However, for a Christian, poverty is out of the way. Christ died on the cross bearing our poverty which was nailed to the cross. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” – 2 Corinthians 8:9(KJV).
Prayer: Father, thank you for nailing poverty on the cross in order for me to enjoy the riches in Christ Jesus.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo