and He will repay him for his deed." (Proverbs 19:17, ESV)
This is a promise we need to remember at Christmastime, when our brains quit working spiritually and buy into the lie that more stuff will make us more happy.
Instead of getting caught up in the frenzy of consumeristic madness this season, may Solomon's words remind us of the great gospel of Jesus Christ, who, though being rich, yet for our sake became poor, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Literally, the Hebrew reads, "Lender of YHWH, gracer of poor."
The verb, "to be gracious [to someone]", "to graciously provide someone with something", "generous", is often used in contexts where one of God's people tangibly shows pity and compassion on someone in need.
Let us not miss the obvious: to show grace is to be generous to those in need. Grace's fruits are tangible, practical, physical.
This is entirely consistent with the theology of NT writer James, who says,
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you [believers] says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? (2:15-16)I also find it so intriguing that providing for the poor was a great priority of the apostle Paul. In his letter to the Galatians, a book that is all about the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul's words in 2:10 are almost shocking, where one of the main concerns of the Jerusalem apostles was that Paul, in his great endeavour to preach the true gospel to the "uncircumcised", remember the poor saints in Jerusalem.
In a book whose one resounding note is the gospel of Jesus Christ, this almost seems out of place. And yet Paul, rather than rebuking his fellow apostles as social liberals pushing a false social gospel, says that remembering the poor was something he was "always eager to do" (NLT).
Why?
Because the Bible clearly and consistently teaches that those who have been regenerated and justified by the grace of God become people who yearn to show unmerited favor to others, especially the poor.
Those who are in Christ Jesus are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). They now bear "the image of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 5:24). They are a first-fruits of the new creation (James 1:18). Simply put, God's people are imitators of Him, people who walk in love, who give themselves up for the good of others (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Remembering the poor and being gracious and generous to them is not the gospel. But it is a beautiful picture of it. When rich Christians give up the American dream to live a comfortable and selfish life so that they can pour themselves out for the good of others, it shows that the gospel really is the power of God for salvation.
Salvation from sin, yes. But also salvation from the desires of the flesh. Salvation from the desires of the eyes. Salvation from pride in possessions. Salvation from being slaves to "the course of this world" (Ephesians 2:2) which is controlled by the prince of the power of the air (2:3). The gospel destroys the idol of finding security in the god called Money, and gives us assurance that Jesus really is enough to satisfy our deepest longings.
God's people must never be merely receptacles of God's grace, as though grace stops at us. Rather, the Bible teaches that the grace of God in Christ that sovereignly flows to us must also flow through us to others.
And so this Christmas season, rather than believing the lie that more stuff will make you more happy, believe the promises of the Bible that it is more blessed to give to those who are unable to give back.
Beloved, God is honored when we give generously to our poor brothers and sisters around the world who truly know what it means to pray, "Heavenly Father, give us this day our daily bread."
May we have the mind of the Philippian believers, who gave beyond their ability, laying up in heaven true and lasting treasures (Matthew 6:19), with an amazing return rate (Philippians 4:17), and an even more amazing fragrance (4:18).
Why? Because they actually believed that their God was more than able to supply their every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (4:19).
In the words of Solomon, they believed that God would repay them for their deed of generosity to a man in financial need.
Beloved saints, let us not fall into the materialistic snare of the Devil this Christmas. May the promises of Scripture and the glory of God be more sweet to us than all the treasures this world could ever offer us (cf. Matthew 4:1-11).
God is not a man that He should lie. He will certainly repay and reward His faithful saints. Maybe not in this life, but He will. You can count on it.
God, give us grace to remember the grace You showed us as poor, miserable, helpless beggars. Renew our minds by Your Spirit (cf. Ephesians 4:23), and transform us by Your Spirit into Christ's self-denying, others-helping image (2 Corinthians 3:18).
In Christ, the only Gift this world ever needs,
Pastor Ryan
*Recommended ministries you can give to this Christmas, that allow you to give gifts to other brothers and sisters in Christ, especially those in ministry, are:
Gospel for Asia
Compassion Ministries
Or, talk to the leadership at your local church. Perhaps you could give a special gift to one of the missionaries your church supports. There are so many needy brothers and sisters around the world. They are not hard to find. Ask the Lord to guide. He most certainly will.
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