August 22 – Prayer & Poverty (Psalm 82:3-4)

“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.”(Proverbs 21:13)

IN WORD:
When most of us cite hindrances to prayer, we mention the obvious: sin, misplaced desires, doubt, enmity with others, and the like. Few of us recall verses like this one that makes God’s response toward us contingent on our response toward others. But the Scripture is clear, and the book of Proverbs and other Old Testament passages are quite emphatic about it: God is intensely compassionate toward the poor, and His followers must be as well.
There’s logic behind that. Those who really understand what God has done will reflect His grace in their attitude toward the oppressed. In a very real sense, we were all broken and destitute. We needed compassion and restoration, and God gave it to us. He is the One who gives to the poor. He urges us to recognize our poverty so we will be blessed by His grace (Matthew 5:3; Luke 6:20). Anyone who understands that and accepts it must go and do likewise. Otherwise, we are guilty of an extreme hypocrisy. We receive mercy without extending it. We take but do not give.
We may be content to help the poor whenever we encounter them, but God is more intentional than that. He seeks them out, just as He sought us. He is the Provider who meets the needs of those who cry out to Him, and often, He meets their needs through us. We must be available.

IN DEED:
So how does our reaction to poverty enhance our prayers? Those who understand God’s compassion for the needy — those who have experienced it and then represent it to others — are best able to understand God’s will and pray with passion for His purposes. The heart of compassion that beats in God’s Spirit is the heart of compassion that beats in us. That puts us in deep fellowship with Him. And deep fellowship is what prayer is all about.
Are your prayers going nowhere? Check your concern for the poor. Does it reflect God’s? If not, seek a change. Those who meet others’ needs will see God meet their own.

“He who wants anything from God must approach Him with empty hands.” -Robert C. Cunningham-