a promise and a warning

Today we read something both reassuring and sobering in the One Year Bible from Psalm 12:1-8. The Psalmist, probably David, tells us that God has heard the cries and groaning of the poor, and now He will rise up to rescue them, "as they have longed for Me to do."

That's a reassuring promise to you if you're struggling. If you're poor, and need His help. If you're in a tough place and have lost some or all of your hope. He hears your cry, and He will rise up and rescue you. Continue to call Him, and trust that He will rescue you. That's His promise.

It's also sobering, because most of us reading this are pretty well off. Most of us have it pretty good, in a wealthy country with all the food and nice homes and cars that we need. And there isn't anything wrong with having the blessings that God has provided. But we have to remember the poor. Because if our way of life is causing others to be mistreated, in whatever way, then when He rises up to rescue them, we might find ourselves on the wrong side of that rescue.

What does all of that mean? Just that our neighbor is our responsibility. Jesus turned everything upside down when He uttered that one sentence: what you do to the least of these, you do to Me. Changes the way we see the poor, doesn't it? Changes how we act toward them. Makes us care a little more, love them a little bit more honestly. If not, then let's ask Him to soften our hearts, and learn to take care of the least of these. Because He is going to, and it's best that we cooperate with Him, right?

God, thank You for caring about the poor. Please help us to be your arms in reaching out to love them.