Take Care of Needy Saints

It was on 18th June that a post in a WhatsApp group of the church in Shillong triggered the need to sound the trumpet to care for the needy saints especially during this time of global pandemic. The post reads:

BLESSING UPON THE CHARITABLE 

Isaiah 58:7-8 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8 Then thy light break forth like the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rear guard.

The moment I noticed the post I could fathom the temperament of the bother who posted it. I know him as one who loves the Lord and is in a sweet intimate fellowship with the Lord. For he testified to me when I met him last year December. My innate response was to strengthen the burden he released, I posted the following:

Deuteronomy 15:4-114. However, there shall not be any needy among you (for Jehovah will surely bless you in the land which Jehovah your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess), 5. But only if you carefully listen to the voice of Jehovah your God and are certain to do all this commandment which I am commanding you today. 6. For Jehovah your God will bless you as He has promised you. And you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you. 7. If among you there is a needy one amidst your brothers within any of your gates in your land, which Jehovah your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart and you shall not close up your hand from your needy brother; 8. But you must open your hand to him, and you must lend enough for his need in whatever he lacks. 9. Be careful that there is not within your heart a base thought like this: The seventh year, the year of release, is near; and your eye be evil against your needy brother and you do not give him anything, and he cry against you to Jehovah, and it become sin to you. 10. You must give to him, and your heart shall not be displeased when you give to him; for on account of this matter Jehovah your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings. 11. For the needy will not cease being in the land; therefore I am commanding you, saying, You must open your hand to your brother, to the poor one with you and to the needy one with you in your land.

With these Bible verses on taking care of the needy saints, I also expressed my deep feeling to all the saints in the group where the message was posted. I have been visiting and praying for the saints in that locality and the Lord grace me to understand certain situations the saints have been facing. Some saints were wealthy while others are daily wage earners. With the pandemic in effect, a good number of the saints have been affected. The church's responsibility is to take care of all the saints, the needy ones especially. Therefore, I expressed my opinion below. I think it is biblical as the thought stems from the Bible verses.

Help the Needy Saints

Blessed are those who generously gives to the needy saints. The blessing of God is already reserved for them. 

Helping the needy saints is not an option, nor is it a matter of free will, but to help the needy saints is a command with God's promised blessing in return.

Acts 20:35In all things I have shown you by example that toiling in this way we ought to support the weak and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

As I sounded out this truth, the Lord also gave me an opportunity to experience the truth of being blessed to give generously. The brother I have been praying with daily is also like a daily wage earner. He expressed his urgent need to go back to his home town in West Bengal as his tuition job had come to an abrupt end with all the students under his care left due to COVID-19. Many sources of income have been devastated generally. The Lord then burdened me to take care of him to go back home safe. 

As I brought the matter to pray, one night the Lord spoke to me clearly that I should help him out. As usual, I do that in fellowship with my wife, for I am not alone, I have a help-meet, my coordinator. Meanwhile, the Lord also provided my need, and also for the need of this brother I was burdened to help. At the same time, the life-study radio broadcast I have been listening to in the night spoke the same thing about helping the needy saints, and that it must be done generously. Step by step, the Lord confirmed it. First, there was the needy brother. Then, the burden to help. Then, the word of God confirmed with the ministry speaking, and the Lord provided the money needed to help that brother.  Finally, yesterday, in my time with the Lord, He led me to call him, and I transferred the said amount to take care of a needy brother. O what a joy to experience the Lord step by step! O what even greater joy to receive the Lord's blessing and be a blessing to others in need! And that too, a timely blessing.

The Lord is the Lord. Time and again, He does things as He deems best. Praise Him!