Author: David

Deuteronomy 15:4 (ESV): 4 But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess—

This startling statement is made in context of instructions for the sabbatical year. Every seventh year, creditors were to release what they had lent to their neighbor.

Thus, God’s desire was that poverty not be present among his people, but rather that they would care for each other in how they did business together.

This verse is immediately followed by a stipulation. Verse 5 says they must strictly obey God’s voice. Verse 11 also notes that there would never cease to be poor in the land, but this was stated with the expectation that the people would live open-handed with generosity toward each other.

God desires that not only we individually demonstrate love and care for one another, but also that our economic systems be structured in order to provide for each other.

This will not eliminate poverty or inequity. Yet if we live with the mindset of generosity and love, our community will be a much better place in which to live.

Heavenly Father, help me to not only see the needs of others, but be compelled by your love to minister to them. Amen.

1 Corinthians 9:19 (ESV): 19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them.

In 1 Corinthians 8 Paul addressed the controversy among good Christians whether to eat meat that had been offered to idols.

He said that we are in free in Christ to eat anything, but we should be careful not to encourage those who would consider it “worship of an idol” to violate their conscience.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul then used himself as an example, talking of the church’s obligation to support him as a minister of the gospel. Yet, Paul gave up that right in order remove obstacles from before the gospel.

In Christ, we are free. We do not need to feel obligated by anyone or to anyone. Yet our freedom is superseded by love. Therefore, we willingly serve rather than insisting on our rights.

Make me a servant, humble and meek.
Lord, let me lift up those who are weak.
And may the prayer of my heart always be.
Make me a servant, make me a servant today.

HIGHLIGHT

Deuteronomy 10:12 (ESV): 12 “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,”

EXPLAIN

In Deuteronomy 9, Moses corrected a potential misunderstanding of the Israelites: God was giving them Canaan, not due to their own righteousness but because of the wickedness of the people living there.

Moses then reminded the people of their own sin with the golden calf, but continued to speak of the tablets of stone bearing the Ten Commandments.

Due to their sin, God had considered destroying the people, but due to Moses’ intercession God relented. Now, Moses spoke of God’s requirement.

APPLY

We must always guard against spiritual pride. We must learn from our failures to live godly. We must recognize how undeserving we are of God’s grace. Then, we should live carefully, holy before our Lord.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you for your great grace. Help me to live humbly and holy before you. Amen.