Open Your Hand to the Poor

Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Deuteronomy 15:7-11 KJV

7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: 8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, [in that] which he wanteth. 9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What is the Lord's instruction to His people concerning the poor? (v.7-8)
2) What is the Lord's warning to those who justify their refusal to give to a brother in need? (v.9)
3) What is the Lord's command concerning the impoverished brother? Why? (v.10)
4) What is the Lord's final word concerning the poor and what He expects His people to do for them? (v.11)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
5) What do you do to help those who are poor within your church family?
6) Why is it important for us to tend to the needs of the members of our church home?

LIFE LESSONS
7) The Lord blesses us to bless those in need, especially the neediest members of our church family.
8) The Lord often supplies every need of every believer through His people.
9) The needs of the people of God are not merely physcal, but emotional, and spiritual.