During the few decades of my Christian life, I have come to understand that God takes great note of how we treat others. When we read and study the Bible, God's heart is revealed in over 2000 verses concerning the poor and needy of this world. In the Old Testament, one of God's laws was for landowners to leave part of the harvest at the edge of the fields for the poor to gather (Leviticus 23:22). The little book of Ruth contains a well-known portrayal of this principal.
The Gleaners, Millet.
The opening verses of Psalm 41 promise a blessing to those who consider the weak/poor:
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak ('dal' meaning dangling, lean, thin, poor, needy); the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness. Psalm 41:1-3
During my time in Macedonia, I have worked with some Roma families in Bitola, and have witnessed the silent killer in many instances. The sheer stress and pressure of not being able to provide for your little family leads to all sorts of physical illness and levels of desperation. These are the families who care for their children; others produce children and let them run wild without appearing to be too concerned, unfortunately. It's all very well to say 'God will provide', but we Christians often forget that we are the arms and legs of our prayers. This is the Jewish definition. It is also my prayer for governments to provide more help for the Roma of Europe and to make sure funds really do reach the people rather than line the pockets of corrupt intermediaries. May God also raise up workers who will love these people. Sometimes their behaviour is antisocial; however, if they can be helped out of their cycle of poverty, I believe this can change. Greater measures need to be taken to integrate them into society, whether in the Balkans or within the European Union.
Another aspect of the word 'dal' in Psalm 41 is 'weak'. Perhaps it is more the thought of those who are weak through poverty, but recently I have been impressed by the bright spirit of a young, Macedonian girl with a physical deformity who comes to my English class. Sadly, the owner of the school confided to me that she is snubbed by her peers and even some teachers just because of her slight deformity. Not only does she endure much physical pain through numerous operations, but the pain of being rejected by people around her is visible in the depths of her soft, intelligent eyes when her smile fades. The attitude in Macedonia towards the physically handicapped and weak of society is generally prejudiced and equal opportunities for such individuals still need to be developed. This particular young girl I have mentioned is exemplary in her attitude to learning and to teach her is a real pleasure. She plans to leave Macedonia next year and I know she will succeed in a society which will encourage her to reach her goals. I was so touched today when she burst into one of my classes just to give me a hug. Oh Macedonians and everyone else reading this, love the weak and lift them up! They are very special and have so much to offer!
Perhaps how much we care for others is an outward display of the depth of grace we have received from Christ, if we are professing Christians. As we permit the Holy Spirit to change us inwardly, we will have a greater desire to manifest that grace outwardly. May our selfish plans and desires never inhibit that transformation and renewing of our minds. May we always reach out to the poor, the weak and the downtrodden and give them hope as we share God's love with them in a practical way.
The opening verses of Psalm 41 promise a blessing to those who consider the weak/poor:
Blessed is he who has regard for the weak ('dal' meaning dangling, lean, thin, poor, needy); the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. The LORD will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness. Psalm 41:1-3
During my time in Macedonia, I have worked with some Roma families in Bitola, and have witnessed the silent killer in many instances. The sheer stress and pressure of not being able to provide for your little family leads to all sorts of physical illness and levels of desperation. These are the families who care for their children; others produce children and let them run wild without appearing to be too concerned, unfortunately. It's all very well to say 'God will provide', but we Christians often forget that we are the arms and legs of our prayers. This is the Jewish definition. It is also my prayer for governments to provide more help for the Roma of Europe and to make sure funds really do reach the people rather than line the pockets of corrupt intermediaries. May God also raise up workers who will love these people. Sometimes their behaviour is antisocial; however, if they can be helped out of their cycle of poverty, I believe this can change. Greater measures need to be taken to integrate them into society, whether in the Balkans or within the European Union.
Another aspect of the word 'dal' in Psalm 41 is 'weak'. Perhaps it is more the thought of those who are weak through poverty, but recently I have been impressed by the bright spirit of a young, Macedonian girl with a physical deformity who comes to my English class. Sadly, the owner of the school confided to me that she is snubbed by her peers and even some teachers just because of her slight deformity. Not only does she endure much physical pain through numerous operations, but the pain of being rejected by people around her is visible in the depths of her soft, intelligent eyes when her smile fades. The attitude in Macedonia towards the physically handicapped and weak of society is generally prejudiced and equal opportunities for such individuals still need to be developed. This particular young girl I have mentioned is exemplary in her attitude to learning and to teach her is a real pleasure. She plans to leave Macedonia next year and I know she will succeed in a society which will encourage her to reach her goals. I was so touched today when she burst into one of my classes just to give me a hug. Oh Macedonians and everyone else reading this, love the weak and lift them up! They are very special and have so much to offer!
Perhaps how much we care for others is an outward display of the depth of grace we have received from Christ, if we are professing Christians. As we permit the Holy Spirit to change us inwardly, we will have a greater desire to manifest that grace outwardly. May our selfish plans and desires never inhibit that transformation and renewing of our minds. May we always reach out to the poor, the weak and the downtrodden and give them hope as we share God's love with them in a practical way.
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