Honor God

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
HONOR GOD
Prov 14:31
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
NIV
There is a certain sense here that indeed it is far better to show mercy on those who would be considered in the eyes of the world as the poor. Every man, woman and children is a part of the creation of God. If when in the presence of such a person who would be consider of poor estate, the attitude of superiority raises, it is simply a form of contempt. There are no doubt people who not only are poor but look the part as well. Their dress, maybe even their cleanliness might be in question, yet they still are children of God. Does God show favoritism? Does God think more of one then another? Is simply ignoring them a form of oppression? If kindness is in opposition to oppression ignoring sure is not kindness. Yet even in the act of kindness can they be an attitude of oppression? That is no matter how one serves the needs of the poor, if thoughts of being any better than them is present then no really kindness has occurred. It may simply be a façade while all the time making the giving of kindness feel better about themselves. Do we keep them at an arm’s length? Do we honor only those who have wealth? Do we think, “Come to the rich, sit in the best sits, of my life, while you poor go sit in the floor of my heart.” But there is another sense also here in that the purest form of kindness to those in need is to share the gospel message. No matter the amount of material wealth a person might have, if they do not know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior they are indeed truly poor. By ignoring those who have never accepted Jesus Christ it is a form showing contempt for God. No matter how vile a person may be, no matter how arrogant or opposed to God a person may be, their deserve to know the Gospel. Perhaps they have heard and refuse, then are we freed from acts of kindness? What if those of are poor of material goods strike it rich, are we freed from acts of kindness? It is worth considering that Jesus died for all, and in that act it was the greatest kindness to all of his creation. Do not we need to follow that act and thus honor God?