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In Deuteronomy, Moses reviews the law for a generation born after it was first given. This passage is part of the section that spells out God's requirements for tithing (to provide for their priests, widows and orphans, and immigrants) and for canceling debts and releasing slaves every seventh year. If they followed these instructions, Moses ventured, God would bless them, and "there should be no poor among you" (15:4).

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

1. What conclusions about poor people (v. 9) could be drawn to justify ignoring their needs?
   
   
2. In Deuteronomy 15:4, Moses stated that following God's instructions ought to eliminate desperate poverty. But in verse 11 he appears to change his mind. Why? What's the difference between "should" and "will"?
   
   
3. Why is assuming that people are poor through some fault of their own "hard-hearted" and "mean-spirited"?
   
   
4. What (in v. 10) is the opposite of being "tight fisted"?
   
   
5. What is God's promise to those who practice this kind of generosity?
   
   
6. Who are needy people in your community?
   
   
7. How could you share your resources with them?
   
   

Ask God to turn sharing what He has entrusted to you from an obligation into a joy.

Deuteronomy 15:7-11

7 "But if there are any poor Israelites in your towns when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tightfisted toward them. 8 Instead, be generous and lend them whatever they need. 9 Do not be mean-spirited and refuse someone a loan because the year for canceling debts is close at hand. If you refuse to make the loan and the needy person cries out to the Lord, you will be considered guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do. 11 There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need.

Copyright © 2008 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
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Prayer for the Week

Teach me, Lord, to give more like You do: ungrudgingly, freely, lavishly.

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