Be Kind to the Poor
“HE WHO IS KIND TO THE POOR LENDS TO THE LORD.” PROVERBS 19:17
Hudson Taylor, the man who helped to open China to the gospel tells his own story regarding this scripture. He was visiting with a poor family who had no food, and Hudson had a half crown in his pocket. As he began to pray for the family, he felt that his prayers were empty. He kept praying, but felt hypocritical because he could become part of the answer to his own prayer, even though he would have no money with which to buy food for himself. The God-pressure became so strong that he could not resist. He reached into his pocket, took out the half crown, and laid it on the table.
Making his way home, he says that his heart felt as light as his pocket.
Before he retired for the night, he quoted back to the Lord his own words from this proverb, “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord.”
“Lord, please do not make this loan a long one,” he prayed, as he reminded the Lord that he only had a small portion of food for breakfast.
The next morning a messenger came as he was enjoying his last simple meal. A small envelope was delivered to his door. In the envelope was four times as much as Hudson had given away the day before plus a brand new pair of leather gloves.
Hudson said he learned then and there to put his money into the banks of heaven. They pay much greater interest than any earthly bank.
Be kind to the poor.
Blessings,
Don Finto
