Open Your Hand

February 21–Deuteronomy 12-15

“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’ “(15:11).

When Jesus said, “the poor you will always have with you” (John 12:8, Matthew 26:11), He was not being calloused or unsympathetic. Our Lord was quoting scripture and teaching us reality. In a broken world, poverty is a problem that will never permanently go away.

Whether feeding five thousand or preaching “the gospel to the poor” (Luke 4:18) or commanding the rich young ruler to “go, sell, give to the poor” (Matthew 19:21), Jesus lived in concrete fulfillment of the Mosaic law of compassion. In Acts 4:34, the Spirit-filled church continued this Kingdom value. In obedience to Christ, they opened their hands to the poor.

Certain conditions apply. We will consider these later. See 2 Thessalonians 3:10. Even so, the command stands for every believer. “You shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother” (15:7).

To accomplish this task, we must open our minds to God’s promise of infinite supply. “The Lord will bless you in all your work and undertakings” (15: 10). In Christ, those who give to the poor do not have less for doing so. “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10).

“YOU give them something to eat,” Jesus told his disciples (Mark 6:37) as they stood hopeless before the needs of the hungry crowd. He insisted they (we) accept the responsibility to act in a world of need. If God is “a very present help in time of trouble” (see Psalm 46:1), then we, His people, must also be. Believing friend, are you generous with the poor? Will you open your hand?

“I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And what I can do, I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do” (Edward Everett Hale).

“Give and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure–pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38).