April 23, 2026 Morning Devotional
Morning Devotion: Read Proverbs
Proverbs 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
We have all seen the commercials during the holidays about giving to the poor. We have all been encouraged to give to the food banks and to the shelters who house those who dwell therein. It is good to do so.
The issue with that is often with the definition of “poor”. What is a poor person; who are poor people? What makes them poor? Can they help themselves or will they help themselves?
Do people make themselves poor by choice when in fact they could be helping themselves? Could they work and yet and forgo that option?
The Apostle Paul addressed this very issue.
2Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.
We see the book of Leviticus that God made provision for the poor. The farmers would plant their crops and during the harvest they would leave the corners and the edges of their fields without harvest so the poor could glean from the fields.
Leviticus 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.
We see Ruth used that option. Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers: and her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
Did you notice, the poor worked to gather what they needed. I wonder how many “poor” are poor by choice rather than by circumstance, choosing not to work and choosing to be sluggards living off others instead.
Please don’t misunderstand the point; there are those who choose to deceive others into believing they are poor when they are not. I personally know of one person who hid their furniture on their neighbours balcony so their home could look empty claiming to be poor. This person then received monies from the government to pay off the house and while using the compassion of others to provide food, clothing and other necessities.
I have personally given money to the “poor” for food only watch them run off and buy drugs. Now, I buy the food, ready made, ready to eat and give it to those in need. Now, I offer work to those who need help and bless them afterwards.
Yes, God wants us to help the poor, be blessing to the poor; the problem is with the definition of “poor”. Yes, help the poor to better themselves not to encourage them into prolonged idleness.
We, personally, have needed help in the past and have used that help to better ourselves and were grateful to those who helped us in our need. When we needed help, we simply prayed to the Lord and He brought the help we needed. God is so good.
There is no room for being without compassion to those who are genuinely poor, in fact being such is a curse.
Proverbs 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Jesus said in Mark 14:7 “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good:…”
When you can, do good for the poor, but not by force, nor by deceit, but by true compassion and that not by the definition of others but by the definition of God and His word. Don’t hide your eyes or close your ears to the need of the poor.
Always pray about what you give and to whom you give it. God will show you what is right.
The choice is still yours,
Pastor Cook
