“With the burial of an ass…”

I love the scriptures in Psalms 41:1-3. The Lord gave Bobby and I these scriptures years ago, when we were struggling in Haiti to feed the poor. We were flat broke, but we were always trying to figure out “how to buy large quantities of food and distribute it to the poor.” We started with the little we had, and then read Psalms 41:1-3. There are seven supernatural blessings that come upon those who bless the poor…

Blessed is he that considereth the poor:

1. The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
2. The Lord will preserve him,
3. and keep him alive;
4. and he shall be blessed upon the earth:
5. and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.
6. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing:
7. thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness (or the Lord will heal him).

Then, in contrast to this, at 4:30 a.m. this morning, I was reading what God told Jehoiakim, the King of Judah, to do and that they were to care for the poor. These are the words of the Lord through Jeremiah, his prophet: “Thus saith the Lord; Execute ye judgement and righteousness […] do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.” (Jeremiah 22:3)

Then, I read what God said would happen to those who did not take care of the poor… “He shall be buried with the burial of an ass, drawn and cast forth beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” (Jeremiah 22:19)

It’s not a sin to be rich and blessed, but it’s a sin to see the poor and turn our head and go over on the other side. I want to live, so that when I die, I won’t be “buried with the burial of an ass!” Have a great day and open your heart and your hand to the poor. Sherry