On giving alms

 Matthew 6:1-4

King James Version

6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, 

to be seen of them: 

otherwise ye have no reward of your Father 

which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, 

do not sound a trumpet before thee, 

as the hypocrites do in the synagogues 

and in the streets, 

that they may have glory of men. 

Verily I say unto you, 

They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, 

let not thy left hand know 

what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: 

and thy Father which seeth in secret 

himself shall reward thee openly.

Do we give alms, to beggars?

What if it doesn't go to them?

What if, they've been forced to beg, by syndicates?

I was constantly faced with that question, for I DEARLY wanted the person to be able to keep that money for themselves.

Thing is, there are syndicates dropping them off, and herding them back, into a van.

I saw that, and I felt so disgusted.

How can we feed off the misfortune of our brothers and sisters?

How can we take advantage of their physical disabilities, and further humiliate them?

Why doesn't the government protect them?

Oh, I can feel GOD's anger at this.

Finally, I found answers to my question.

I found comfort in this verse:

Proverbs 28:8

King James Version

8 He that by usury and unjust gain 

increaseth his substance, 

he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.

Using another Bible translation, it means:

Proverbs 28:8

New Living Translation

8 Income from charging high interest rates

    will end up in the pocket of someone 

who is kind to the poor.

That's comforting to know.

Accumulated wealth, from dishonest or cruel gain, will eventually go back to the poor.

From someone who really cares for them.

How wonderful the WORD of GOD is!

JESUS assured those suffering:

Matthew 20:16

King James Version

16 So the last shall be first, 

and the first last: 

for many be called, 

but few chosen.

Luke 6:20-21

King James Version

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, 

and said, 

Blessed be ye poor: 

for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: 

for ye shall be filled. 

Blessed are ye that weep now: 

for ye shall laugh.

Beware those who oppress the poor.

GOD's wrath will surely be upon you!

Proverbs 14:31

King James Version

31 He that oppresseth the poor 

reproacheth his Maker: 

but he that honoureth him 

hath mercy on the poor.

How can we stop the cycle?

How can we prevent the humiliation of GOD's precious people?

What can we do, for our suffering brothers and sisters?

We must turn to JESUS immediately.

That we may be guided by His SPIRIT.

That we may be guided into wisdom.

That we may know GOD's will.

This blog is my own way of reflecting upon solutions to the plight of the poor.

SPIRIT and SCRIPTURE will teach me.

It has always to be from SPIRIT's perspective.

Man has limited view.

Born agains wait for SPIRIT to guide us.

Related material:

USURY money

LAZARUS and the RICH MAN

How JESUS loved the poor

 Luke 19:10

King James Version

10 For the Son of man is come to seek 

and to save that which was lost.

The poor in this post refers to the impoverished, the downtrodden, the sick, the forgotten.

Here's how JESUS loved the poor:

Matthew 5:42

King James Version

42 Give to him that asketh thee, 

and from him that would borrow of thee 

turn not thou away.

Matthew 19:21

King James Version

21 Jesus said unto him, 

If thou wilt be perfect, 

go and sell that thou hast, 

and give to the poor, 

and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: 

and come and follow me.

Matthew 25:31-46

King James Version

31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, 

and all the holy angels with him, 

then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: 

and he shall separate them one from another, 

as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, 

but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them 

on his right hand, 

Come, ye blessed of my Father, 

inherit the kingdom prepared for you 

from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: 

I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: 

I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: 

I was sick, and ye visited me: 

I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, 

saying, 

Lord, 

when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? 

or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? 

or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, 

or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one 

of the least of these my brethren, 

ye have done it unto me.

41 Then shall he say also unto them 

on the left hand, 

Depart from me, 

ye cursed, into everlasting fire, 

prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: 

I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: 

naked, and ye clothed me not: 

sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, 

Lord, when saw we thee an hungred,

 or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, 

or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, 

Verily I say unto you, 

Inasmuch as ye did it not to one 

of the least of these, 

ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away 

into everlasting punishment: 

but the righteous into life eternal.

Mark 14:7

King James Version

7 For ye have the poor with you always, 

and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: 

but me ye have not always.

Luke 3:10-11

King James Version

10 And the people asked him, saying, 

What shall we do then?

11 He answereth and saith unto them, 

He that hath two coats, 

let him impart to him that hath none; 

and he that hath meat, 

let him do likewise.

Luke 3:12-13

King James Version

12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, 

and said unto him, 

Master, 

what shall we do?

13 And he said unto them, 

Exact no more 

than that which is appointed you.

Luke 4:17-21

King James Version

17 And there was delivered unto him 

the book of the prophet Esaias. 

And when he had opened the book, 

he found the place where it was written,

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, 

because he hath anointed me 

to preach the gospel to the poor; 

he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, 

to preach deliverance to the captives, 

and recovering of sight to the blind, 

to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

20 And he closed the book, 

and he gave it again to the minister, 

and sat down. 

And the eyes of all them that were 

in the synagogue 

were fastened on him.

21 And he began to say unto them, 

This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Luke 6:20

King James Version

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, 

and said, 

Blessed be ye poor: 

for yours is the kingdom of God.

Luke 7:22

King James Version

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, 

Go your way, 

and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; 

how that the blind see, 

the lame walk, 

the lepers are cleansed, 

the deaf hear, 

the dead are raised, 

to the poor the gospel is preached.

Luke 6:21

King James Version

21 Blessed are ye that hunger now: 

for ye shall be filled. 

Blessed are ye that weep now: 

for ye shall laugh.

Luke 12:33-34

King James Version

33 Sell that ye have, 

and give alms; 

provide yourselves bags which wax not old, 

a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, 

where no thief approacheth, 

neither moth corrupteth.

34 For where your treasure is, 

there will your heart be also.

Luke 14:13-14

King James Version

13 But when thou makest a feast, 

call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

14 And thou shalt be blessed; 

for they cannot recompense thee: 

for thou shalt be recompensed 

at the resurrection of the just.

Luke 21:1-4

King James Version

21 And he looked up, 

and saw the rich men 

casting their gifts into the treasury.

2 And he saw also a certain poor widow 

casting in thither two mites.

3 And he said, 

Of a truth I say unto you, 

that this poor widow 

hath cast in more than they all:

4 For all these have of their abundance 

cast in unto the offerings of God: 

but she of her penury hath cast in 

all the living that she had.

John 13:34-35

King James Version

34 A new commandment I give unto you, 

That ye love one another; 

as I have loved you, 

that ye also love one another.

35 By this shall all men know 

that ye are my disciples, 

if ye have love one to another.

The sick and disabled

John 9:1-2

King James Version

9 And as Jesus passed by, 

he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, 

Master, 

who did sin, 

this man, 

or his parents, 

that he was born blind?

In the city where I live, there seem to be many blind people.

I ride the jeepney with them.

The closest spot to the exit is reserved for the blind, elderly, and pregnant women.

We all move, when they come aboard.

Lucky are these precious people, if given employment.

There are decent massage therapy places for them.

Or craft shops, where they turn out wonderful wooden pieces.

Others, are forced to beg.

Cripples are forced to beg, too.

I've seen a burn victim, with empty eye sockets, forced to beg,

Syndicates deliver them to their "spots".

The city makes sure there are ramps for disabled folks, for every building.

Schooled in Architecture, I wonder how those steep, narrow ramps can accommodate the wheelchairs.

Just as in most everything here, it's an afterthought.

A necessary building requirement to fulfill.

Lest the builders not be awarded a building permit.

Of course, the hospitals are kinder.

The ramps are wider.

But now, the rooms are much smaller.

More buildings populate their compound.

More specialists thrive on their profession.

It's a big change from the time my father was a physician-surgeon in the late 50s.

How "businesses" thrive on the poor health of others!

Is the objective, prevention?

That people don't get sick, or as sick?

That people don't pay, an arm and a leg, just to be released from the hospital?

Are they accepted at all, if they don't have money, to begin with?

One thing I do know is that many doctors put up dialysis centers.

That's alarming.

That means, more people have diabetes.

Our crazy processed diets don't help.

Everyone's feeding on illness.

Everyone's being herded that way.

And what of long-term illness?

Or those who will be perpetually disabled?

How do families manage?

I know how I've managed.

I cared for a family member with ALL my heart.

GOD provides, ALL the time.

Especially for those who love Him.

And believe in Him.

And those who love the sick, and disabled.

Our FAITH is in JESUS.

Let's all respect the plight of the sick, and disabled.

We would not want to be in their position.

I assure you of that.

Let's not feed upon their helplessness.

Let's LOVE them.

As JESUS did.

In answer to the verse above, who sinned?

This is how JESUS answered:

John 9:3

King James Version

3 Jesus answered, 

Neither hath this man sinned, 

nor his parents: 

but that the works of God 

should be made manifest in him.

Folks, it's not about the sick, or disabled.

It's about us.

Do we have love. for them?

Do we have patience, for them?

What would we do, for them?