Rev. David Holwick J
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
March 8, 1992
Leviticus 25:35-43
|
I. Current political climate.
A. Anti-poor?
1) New Jersey - no welfare to mothers who have new kids.
2) Clinton says put poor to work.
3) Tsongas - put middle class to work, don't give them a tax cut.
B. Poverty is gaining in America.
1) More than twenty-six million Americans today live below the
poverty level.
One sociologist estimates that one of every 3 young families
in America are only one paycheck away from bankruptcy.
2) It costs more to buy a new car in the United States today
than it cost Christopher Columbus to equip and undertake
three voyages to and from the New World. #1706
C. What should a Christian's attitude be?
1) Are poor people all noble long-suffering saints?
2) Are poor where they are due to sin and laziness?
3) Realistically, can anything be done about poverty?
D. The Old Testament gives some concrete answers.
II. Poor and God's Kingdom.
A. Due to God's blessing, there shouldn't be poverty. Deut 15:4
1) Poverty is due to disobedience in society. Deut 15:5
2) Not necessarily disobedience of poor people.
B. Harsh reality - always poor among us. Deut 15:11
1) Jesus taught the same thing. Mark 14:7; John 12:8
C. Believers should do something about it. Deut 15:7-10
1) Lend freely (rather than handout) what he needs. Deut 15:8
2) No place for stinginess. Deut 15:7
a) Don't harden heart (compassion).
b) Don't tighten fist (generosity).
c) Note generosity toward freed slaves. Deut 15:13-14
3) Self-serving attitude is sinful. Deut 15:9
4) Remember that we were once poor slaves. Deut 15:15
III. Self-help principle in the Old Testament.
A. Poor are allowed leftovers. 19:9-10; 23:22; Deut 24:19-21; Ruth 2
B. Gleaning on Sabbath years. Lev 25:6
1) Everyone has to glean - even the rich. Leveling tradition.
2) (Illust - young students put on street to panhandle)
C. Jubilee - everyone starts out fresh. Lev 25:10ff
1) The land belongs to God. Lev 25:23
2) Each person is a tenant, not an owner.
3) Not monopolistic, nor communistic. Family oriented.
D. Helping hand: Redemption of poor brothers.
1) Family should redeem kin (not government). 25:25
2) Help the poor and lend freely to them. 25:35-36
IV. Dignity and compassion.
A. Treat as hired worker, not a slave. (Don't humiliate) 25:39-54
B. Dignity - let him bring pledge out of own house. Deut 24:10-11
C. Don't hold his pledged coat overnight since he needs it. Deut 24:12
D. Don't hold back wages. Lev 19:13; Deut 24:14-15; Matt 20:8
E. Don't oppress the poor. Exod 23:9
V. Justice.
A. Don't deny justice to the poor. Exod 23:6; Deut 24:17
B. Don't favor the poor. Lev 19:15; Exod 23:3
C. No slavery of poor brothers. Lev 25:39-54
VI. Religion.
A. Sabbath rest applies to all. Lev 16:29
B. Sliding payments (vows & sacrifices). Lev 5:7,11; 27:8
C. Tithe used for poor to celebrate. Deut 14:29; Deut 26:12
D. Same atonement price (1/2 shekel). Exod 30:15
1) In God's eyes, poor are worth as much as rich.
VII. Before Almighty God, we are all impoverished sinners.
A. Put God first & material needs will be met.
1) Taught in both testaments:
a) Old Testament: Leviticus 25:18ff
b) New Testament: Matthew 6:25ff
2) Applies to nations as well as individuals.
B. Christians must get involved, not sit back and criticize.
A few years ago the Readers' Digest gave an interesting portrayal.
Millard Fuller was a successful entrepreneur and businessman.
At age 29 he was almost a millionaire.
But he was so wrapped up in business and making money his wife
Linda decided to leave him.
Fortunately they got back together and decided to start their
lives over.
They happened to stop by Koinonia Farms in Americus, GA, where
they met a man named Clarence Jordan.
Jordan was a firm believer in Jesus Christ and also a firm
believer that the poor must be encouraged to help themselves.
The Fullers were so impressed by what they saw that they sold
their business and gave the money to charity.
With Jordan he developed a dream - give poor people
interest-free mortgages and help them build their own homes.
Payments were recycled into mortgage fund.
By 1972 twenty-seven homes were constructed.
In Charlotte, N.C., 350 of his volunteers raised 14 houses to
grab attention by erecting a block of homes in 5 days.
The newspaper called it "The Miracle on 19th Street."
People who were walking by asked who paid for all the helpers.
Fuller replied, "Nobody."
One man said: "Folks don't do this sort of thing for nothing."
"It's worse than that - they paid to come."
Millard explained about the volunteers from churches around the
country.
The onlooker said, "Man, that's real religion!" #256
C. Opportunities to serve:
1) Mission trip to Kentucky.
2) Feeding homeless in Morris County.
D. When Jesus judges us, the criteria of our spirituality will be
how we treated our weaker brothers. Matthew 25
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Easily create PDF Help documents