4 Responses to “Caring for the Least of These: Deuteronomy 15:7”

1. Bob on December 26th, 2009 2:45 pm
   

   Is it a duty…? I always was a cheerful giver. Yet even if i was a poor person I wouldn’t demand people to help or give to me. There was already a tithe, farmers gave of crops.
   is mentioned in whenoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. could it just be to have an attitdue about giving. I suddenly feel less enthusistac about giving and helping. Anyone can easily take advantage of us… It doesn’t seem fair… from either prospective. 2 Corinthians 9:7, Romans 9:15. Who am I to demand money from you. Every poor person, at the same time? Suddenly this isn’t somthing I enjoy but feel burdened to do. There will alawys be poor people because of economic problems, fixing those would help. In welfare people now can use this as entitlement. I feel forced.
   The problem of the poor is bigger than us. Can anybody please shed some light on this? I’ve looked carefully at the verse, to at least make it bearable. My first impression was that every seven years this was to be done, since the tithe, the farming fields were in place during the other six. On the seventh year people were to realease debts and and give generously, and their fields were available to the poor. This tradition is of jewsih origin. Throughout the bible I thought it was implied to be voluntary. I wish my giving was voluntary, not mandatory. I’ve always been willing to give and help generously. But now, that the least i could do…. Love thy neighbor as thyself, as the poor person I would want to given of freely, whatsover you chose to give, not because it was demanded… I would have enough faith to depend on god to move on people’s hearts to give and help me. Not all suffering is bad it is mentioned in the bible. If there were soultion to the needy, I would hope it to stem from just voluntary action. Is this a guilt trip?… Since the poor are always here, I’m not sure I’ll ever be relieved. If only, if only… There must be some limits. Can anybody please shed some light on this?
2. Bob on December 26th, 2009 3:13 pm
   

   hmm, in these verses god uses a methphor. Maybe that means something different today, from the hebrew texts. It might not mean lavishsly, but freely, comparison close fisted. Because people could easily be taken advantage of.
3. Bob on December 26th, 2009 3:39 pm
   

   Would this put me in a costant state of sin? There alawys be people i could help…
   Do I have to dedicate my life to the poor….
   was God just addressing the israelites, and their times? We don’t have a year of jubilee, seventh year. We do have welfare and many other benfits for people already. Despite our best efforts poor people will still be around… ?
4. Bob on December 26th, 2009 4:42 pm
   

   For ye have the poor with you always, and “Whenoever ye will” ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
   Have things changed slightly? Romans 9:15, 2 Corinthians 9:7 I would depend on god to mave people hearts.
   Like the tithe it may make sense every seven years to give geneorusly to poor. Like every three years.

   Should we depend on other men for our provision?

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