Speaking for the Rights of the Poor

MEMORY VERSE:

“The righteous care about justice for the poor,

but the wicked have no such concern.”

Proverbs 29:7

INTRODUCTION:

Adults are said to be people in their prime years. Most of them are in power and in the position to “make things happen.” As for the plight of the poor, what is God’s command

for adults?

I. Adults are preoccupied with unnecessary issues surrounding poor people.

· Adults tend not to listen to the cry of the poor for justice.

· Adults tend to blame the poor for the injustices they experience.

II. Christian adults stand for justice for the poor.

· They stop the source of injustice to the poor.

· They care for and counsel the abused poor.

III. God blesses the poor through the Christian adults.

· God uses them to lessen if not remove the cause of injustice to

the poor.

· God uses them to redeem the poor people’s trust back to Him.

CONCLUSION:

Adulthood is a very good time to do good deeds to others. Christian adults can reach their maximum potential in helping the poor by standing for their rights. God uses them

as instruments to eliminate the cause of injustice to the poor.

REFLECTION: Let us ask ourselves the following questions:

· Do I tend to be deaf to the cry of the poor for justice?

— Why? If not, why not?

· Do I tend to blame the poor for the injustices they experience?

— Why? If not, why not?

· Do I stop the source of injustice to the poor?

— How? If not, why not?

· Do I care for and counsel the abused poor?

— How? If not, why not?

· Does God use me to lessen if not remove the cause of injustice to

the poor?

— In what ways? If not, what do I think could be the reason?

APPLICATION:

— prayer of commitment –

Dear God, thank You for this prime year of my life when I could stand for the cause of the poor. Please teach me to have a pure heart in helping the poor experience justice. Help me eliminate the source of injustice and guide me as I show my concern for the abused. Please use me as an instrument of change in communities where the poor need justice. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

— statement of commitment —

Whenever I tend to shut my ears to the cry of the abused, I will ask God to give me the sensitivity to actually help them remove the source of injustice. Whenever I tend to blame the poor just because they are poor and the abused just because they are recipients of injustice, I will ask God to give me a compassionate heart for the poor. I will ask His tender love and care be made manifest in my life as I deal with them. I will stand for the rights of the poor.

CLOSING PRAYER