Thursday, December 9, 2010

Disrespecting The Poor


He who mocks the poor insults his Creator
He who rejoices at the destruction of others will be punished by God
But he who has compassion will find mercy.
Proverbs 17:5

My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?
Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
James 2:1-9


Why do you seek me daily and want to know my ways?
Why do you ask me for wisdom and think I am near?
I will not answer your prayers or listen to your cries
Because even as you pray you already have your desire
But you keep from the needy what they deserve.
If you give bread to the hungry from your heart
And satisfy the afflicted soul;
Then shall your light shine forth from darkness
And your darkness shall be bright as midday.
Isaiah 58:2-3,10

Sell your possessions and give to the poor
And you shall have abundance in heaven
Where no thief can steal
And no animal destroy.
Luke 12:33

Blessed are you who are poor
For yours is the kingdom of heaven.
But woe to you who are rich
For you have already received your comfort.
Luke 6:20, 24

The poor is detestable even to a friend, but many are they who love someone rich. One who despises the needy is at fault, one who takes pity on the poor is blessed.
Proverbs 14:20-21

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