Openhanded

Tim Keller recently published The Gospel and the Poor. On biblical history, it digs deeper than The Hole in Our Gospel (one of my favorite reads). A strong parallel between the two can be seen, however, as Keller stresses the biblical heritage of caring for the poor, the alien and the orphan.

He writes from Jonathan Edwards, ‘bear one another’s burdens’ means that we must not wait until a man is absolutely destitute before we help him. After all, we would not wait until we were destitute to help ourselves, and we must love our neighbor as ourselves. We must not limit our aid to those we know well, for we must receive strangers. We must not limit our aid to only the "deserving" poor, for Christ did not so limit his ministry.

He concludes - God has a special (but not exclusive) concern for the marginalized of the world, and the church must reflect that in the most practical ways. Anyone who has a surplus of goods with which they could help others, but who refuses to do so, calls into question one’s very understanding of and commitment to the gospel.

Interesting point. What is a surplus of goods? Would unspent missions budgets and capital campaigns described as vision funds qualify as a surplus of goods? Here's an idea: re-allocate a percentage of those savings to the orphan, the hungry and the poor. If that is not possible, then use the interest that the funds earn for the orphan, the hungry and the poor. Neither may be easy but I believe it would be the right thing to do.

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:11)

We have two close friends and partners in ministry that need help TODAY. They need open hands that will bless them so that they can bless others - and that is all that they do - bless others sacrificially - their hands are always open. They have no reserve funds, capital campaigns, etc. They give it all away. They are on the verge of shutting down for lack of funds.

Mission Harvest America, run by missionaries Dewey & Clara Painter is about to close their doors for lack of funds. One of their core ministries is to ship containers of food, clothing, supplies and relief material all over the world. Will you open your hand and bless them?

Foundation Builders International, run by missionaries Jerry & Tracy Reiner, feed, clothe and serve the needy all over Ohio. They are trying to live on air with their children. Will you open your hand and bless them?

By the way, have you noticed that Deuteronomy 15:11 does not use the word "suggest"?