Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. Proverbs 21:13
“Giving to the needy is like laying up against winter, or against a time of calamity. It is the best way of laying up for yourselves and for your children. Children in a time of need very often find their fathers’ bread, that bread which their fathers had cast upon the waters.
Psalm 37:25, “I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Why? What is the reason of it? It follows in the next verse, “He is ever merciful and lendeth, and his seed is blessed.”
Whether the time will ever come or not, that we or our children shall be in distressing want of bread; yet doubtless evil will be on the earth. We shall have our times of calamity, wherein we shall stand in great need of God’s pity and help, if not of that of our fellow creatures. And God hath promised that at such a time, he that hath been of a charitable spirit and practice, shall find help.
Psalm 41:1-4, “Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive, and he shall be blessed upon the earth; and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.”
Such as have been merciful and liberal to others in their distress, God will not forget it, but will so order it, that they shall have help when they are in distress. Yea, their children shall reap the fruit of it in the day of trouble. God hath threatened uncharitable persons, that if ever they come to be in calamity and distress they shall be left helpless.”
Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) in Christian Charity or The Duty of Charity to the Poor, Explained and Enforced (1732) Section III.
Edwards continues to offer us timeless wisdom. Today, he repeatedly draws from the wisdom literature to alert us to the best way to prepare for calamity.
How? Simply hear and respond to the cries of those in need. Uncharitable persons will be left helpless but those who hear the cries of the poor will also be themselves heard.
Do you know any people or ministries in need? How might you help them with your time or resources? Edwards reminds us that those “of a charitable spirit and practice” will find help.
Father, help those who live, give, serve, and love generously. Restore their strength. Replenish their resources. Let the charitable spirits always find the help they need. Amen.