THINK TOGETHER.
Are you rich or poor?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 30:14. those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among mankind.
This is Agur’s last description of the wicked, and he saved the scariest for last. He wants us to imagine that the wicked have swords and knives as teeth and mouths. Yikes! He says that the wicked devour (eat up) the poor and needy. Of course, Agur does not mean that wicked people have knives for teeth or that they eat poor people. So what do you think he means?
He means that they do things that are mean and unfair toward the poorest and neediest people. The very people who need the most help, that’s who the wicked hurt the most. Sadly, this is true all over the world. Governments often make laws that keep the poor people poor and make the rich people richer. God says that this is wickedness. In the Old Testament, God wrote laws for his people that, if obeyed, would make sure that there were never any poor people. Laws that ended slavery, returned land to people, required sharing, and ended debt (owing money).
Never forget, God loves the poor and he hates poverty. He wants everyone to share and work hard. He wants everyone to have all that they need. That’s why God sent Jesus to us from Heaven. Jesus left Heaven and all its riches behind and became a poor person who went around helping the poor and needy. More importantly, Jesus became poor spiritually on the cross for us, taking all our sin and shame upon himself, so that when we trust in him we might become rich spiritually – forgiven, cleansed, loved, and accepted as God’s child.
Are you rich or poor? Are you spiritually rich in Jesus, or are you still poor in your unforgiven sins? Why not ask Jesus to forgive you and receive the riches of his love and grace today?
Because of Jesus we can be spiritually rich.
With Jesus we can love and help the poor and needy.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
This holiday season make a plan to help the poor and needy around you. What can your family do to help others?
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, you shared your riches with me. Help me to share my riches with others. Amen.
TLICfamily 