One of the greatest revival chapters in the whole Bible, Isaiah 58, brings to light our duty as followers of God to be His helping hands in the world, to relieve the suffering we see around us, and to care for those of humanity who are in greater need than us! God expects us to lift up our fellow men and to help them out of difficult or tight places. God desires that we should help men and women to a place where they also can become strong helpers of others.
Children, orphans, widows, the poor and the outcast are among those whom God asks us to help. God does not ask us to foster any type of laziness in others, or to aid without order and discretion (2 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Timothy 5:3,16). But, the Lord does call us to help the needy ones of humanity and to assist in lifting them above the pain of unfortunate circumstances to reach a place of health and efficiency.
Below, we can see the “fast” that God himself has chosen for us, and the resulting blessings from heaven that come when we choose to live according to God’s calling! We must remember to let our “light so shine before men, that they me see [our] good works and glorify [our] Father who is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16). The works of care and concern so earnestly put forth by Christ’s followers will be a telling evidence to all the world of the care and concern that God himself has for all of His creatures! But a lethargic and careless church does just the opposite. When our actions fail to meet our profession, we bring sadness to the heart of God and dishonor to His righteous name. Therefore, let us be the people whom God has been calling, “…a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Let our zeal be ever evident to the glory of His righteous name!!
“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness,To undo the heavy burdens,To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”-Isaiah 58:6-8, NKJV
The Bible tells us of a righteous man who received the praise and approbation or high approval of God. We know him by the name of Job. God bragged about Job saying, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one who fears God, and shuns evil?” (Job 1:8). Job happened to be a wealthy man, but you might say that his wealth of character was even far more consequential than any such “earthly riches.” Job was one who became “eyes to the blind” and “feet…to the lame.” He said in defense of himself to unjust accusers, “I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not, I searched out” (Job 29:15,16). God’s high praise of this man’s righteousness speak to the same. He was a father to the poor, taking them under his wing even as struggling children, sticking with the helpless ones, and raising them up to their feet again.
Job was not one to reluctantly accept the plea of a person in desperate need. Rather, Job was one who “searched out” the cause of the poor that he did not know. In other words, Job was looking for poorer, more unfortunate souls who were in need of help, and whom he could help. Should we not do the same? To look out for those in need, to search them out and to find them, and then to help them, even as a father tenderly does to his own children who are in need? Certainly, if we would please God by exhibiting His own great heart of love for the poor and needy, then we would do such.
Let us search out and look for those whom we may help in the name of Jesus Christ, for most certainly, this is our call, and our work. In connection with the preaching of the gospel, must be the living of the gospel, which shows the caring, loving nature of God! Such care gave efficiency to the work of Christ in His days here on earth, and it will no less give efficiency to the cause of Christ today as His servants live out the practical side of the gospel, “…love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). Will we put a week’s or a month’s worth of food on the table of a starving child before we put another car or boat into our garage? Let us pray it will be so!
Let’s always pray and do for those we can, that they may know God’s love practically.