Sep 23 2018 Living the Way of Wisdom in our Finances - Our Responsibility to the Poor and Needy

Bible Project – Justice

October 7 – Baptism and lunch –

Mike Marette: New Policy – we have this chair here – and if I catch anyone sleeping… this will be your new seat… Just kidding.

Living the way of wisdom in our finances. Our responsibility to the Poor and Needy

We are a church of unsung heroes – there are a lot of people who serve our community.

Lord, thank You for our time and the opportunity to hear from some folks who are doing some really cool things – who love justice and mercy and who walk humbly with you – those are the people we want to be.

Deut 15:7 If anyone is poor among your people in any of the towns of the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need…

Paul quoted this last week – how did you enjoy showing generosity toward others?

10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to."For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you, saying, 'You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.'

Jesus quoted this – when (probably Judas) said – we could have sold that costly perfume and given it to the poor… - and Jesus replied – you will always have the poor with you.

Paul said – be generous to all people – especially of those of the household of faith.

You were probably hoping for a verse from Leviticus today… you probably read this in your quiet time this week!

Leviticus 23:22 When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the LORD your God.'"

There is no modern day application like – Giant Eagle will make the outer aisles free…

Needy and the alien (not like ET – but tied to the word stranger, sojourner) – for us – Foreigner – Immigrant – Refugee – that is an exact translation for us.

We are to set aside something of ours for the foreigner, immigrant, and refugee.

People who do not belong to our tribe – we are to be generous to those from Michigan… and Pittsburgh.

There is a caution that comes up – and we talk about this in our Men’s times -

Responsibility

The one who is lazy becomes poor, but the one who works diligently becomes wealthy. 5 The one who gathers crops in the summer is a wise son, but the one who sleeps during the harvest is a son who brings shame to himself. (Prov. 10:4)

Generosity must go beyond giving a hand out to a hand up. Generosity must be giving time to those who need to learn to walk on their own two feet – taking responsibility to help others to see transformation in their own lives.

With that – do not assume that all poor people are lazy – no more than we would assume that all rich people are greedy and cheaters.

Sue Cooper – you know how there are people at the end of the exit? Sue carries food that doesn’t perish to give to them.

Bob Bizub and I – there used to be people who lived under the bridge – and they would come to our church to ask for handouts. We would sometimes give gift cards to acme – until one day we saw one coming out with a case of beer… - so we started working with them and doing a bible study with them…

The Poor

The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished. (Prov. 17:5)

We might not outwardly mock, but we will make jokes and judge.

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him. (Prov. 14:31)

There are plenty of people who prey on the poor, needy, and elderly – systems of oppression – like gambling that prey on the needy. There are systemic practices in every society that oppress the poor to keep them in poverty. The Bible is clear on that – every society has systemic practices that oppress the poor.

There are food deserts in the inner cities – see what Tim Keller has to say about that – look it up!

There is abundant food in the field of the poor, but it is swept away by injustice. (Prov. 13:23)

When well intentioned policies fail to achieve what they strive for.

The key – all generosity to those in need needs to be incarnational. Jesus became one of us – moved into the neighborhood – pitched his tent – as it goes beyond giving money – but engaging.

Chris Bernhart – I’m going to talk about where I serve – incognito – Urban Vision – I brought a newsletter – and a business card – Regina Lewis moved from DC to get her family out of that area and works for Urban Vision now.

1 Cor. 12 – different people have different attributes – the hand, ear, eye…

The board of UV had an emergency situation last year – their roof was leaking – here is my response to their thank you – if you have any extra money to give – I know a gal who grew up in our church who works in a ministry that is worthy – so I volunteered for the Christmas Store – Jodi Matthews had moved to Elizabeth Park – moving to where they wanted to serve.

Now they are in an old Methodist church – and have expanded it into an amazing work for God – I learned about their philosophy – Some of the things I have been involved with – they had a 30 year old roof – so I oversaw putting the new roof on. Storm windows – replacement windows – Glass block – numerous other things.

Anyway – what I want to point out – from fixing leaks – to whatever they need. The reason I am there – Urban Vision has an outreach ministry – to the families of North Hill. Just like Rodney and Jodi moved there – those who work there live in that area.

“It gives me great joy – so as I do work at UV, I am the one being blessed – I may be a hand, but you are all part of the body – doing what God has given you to do – you have not shunned your duty – I hope you have the same joy I experience.”

I urge you – each of us has God-given capabilities – and the way I look at it – I enjoyed going to work because it was stuff I liked to do – so when I have a volunteer – I ask what they like to do.

Tuesday 2:30-5:30

Larry Mattis – I work for UPS – nights – 9 pm – and finish up Saturday morning. So I’m available Monday mornings.

I volunteer at the Haven of Rest. I would like to say it was a God-thing – but at the time, it wasn’t. I was bored – and wanted something to do – going to church in Alliance, and a friend of mine started volunteering for a food pantry – so we were talking about it – and Haven of Rest came to mind.

8-noon on Mondays – Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it – scrubbing toilets, or whatever.

Great! We need drivers, the secretary told me. I’m a UPS driver! Wow, she said, my dad works for Roadway – and so she took me all around.

We collect food from different places in the mornings.

People do not get clothes or food or anything without listening to a Bible message first. People want to get away from addiction – and they look like you and me. It could be me. It could be you.

You go there to help people – and I find that I am the one who gets the most help. I realized I was screwed up and needed help. It has been the greatest blessing.

A guy I volunteer with – big time druggie – has been transformed. He works at a church and the friendship we have created has been awesome.

Just a couple stories – Carlito was on the streets – he moved to Ohio – had been a big time musician – they gave Carlito a job – dealing with people like me, delivering the food. And he would figure out what needs there were – churches give from all over the area.

If I see a weedwhacker – I think of Carlito – as he took a dude out with one in a fight once.

I mention Carlito – I wanted to go kayaking with him so I called him – he said – don’t forget about me. I went in a couple years ago – and found out that he had died. Even though he did something bad with a weedwhacker – when I see one, I think of the great things he did. I will not forget him.

Jeff and I pulled into a parking lot at a bakery – she backs up – and I honked at this little old lady – I thought I was going to get it – but she said thank you. I’m in a bad place. I looked back and saw the word HAVEN – and my mom had died yesterday and I need a haven.

Genesis 31:49 -= The Lord watch between me and thee – I prayed with her in the parking lot.

As I have volunteered – God has been preparing this. Like Chris and his capabilities.

IF – IF we confess our sins – IF we do this or that – and I think of me going to the Haven – and if I didn’t go down to the haven – I wouldn’t be living here now and going to this church – there are a lot bad things going on – but through those bad things – I have found so many good things – If I didn’t go through this, I wouldn’t experience that.

And it is the same with the people I work with at the Haven. I struggle – when I see those on the street corner – and I judge – you’re clean – you have nice shoes on – and I don’t give. I gave at the haven – volunteering and giving stuff – you will be so blessed – I guarantee it!