Compassion and Justice for the Poor

Acts of Worship
Stewardship for Life

Serving the Least

Leviticus 19:9-15The Message

^9-10 “When you harvest your land, don’t harvest right up to the edges of your field or gather the gleanings from the harvest. Don’t strip your vineyard bare or go back and pick up the fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am God, your God.
¹¹ “Don’t steal.
“Don’t lie.
“Don’t deceive anyone.
¹² “Don’t swear falsely using my name, violating the name of your God. I am God.
¹³ “Don’t exploit your friend or rob him.
“Don’t hold back the wages of a hired hand overnight.
¹⁴ “Don’t curse the deaf; don’t put a stumbling block in front of the blind; fear your God. I am God.
¹⁵ “Don’t pervert justice. Don’t show favoritism to either the poor or the great. Judge on the basis of what is right.

For Reflection 

God intends us to be stewards of each other.  Call it an obligation, a duty, a response to the love of God for you and all humankind.  With perversion of justice, deception in most important issues, exploitation, and inequities of all types rampant in today's world, how is a Christian to respond?
How have you responded?  Have you contributed to the chaos by doing nothing but shake your head?  Or have you participated in the healing power of God by showing compassion, forgiveness and sharing your talents for the salvation of others?

Pray

that you will not be swept up in the commonplace material world answers to human suffering. Pray that you will act in ways that are consistent with God's intention that you become a wise steward of His Kingdom.