Lending to the Lord
Charles C. Pugh III

"HE WHO HAS PITY ON THE POOR LENDS TO THE LORD" (Ps. 19:17, emp. added). How can one lend to the Lord? How is it possible to lend to One who says, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine and all its fullness" (Ps. 50:12).

The Bible says that God, who in one sense already owns everything, identifies with the poor and needy to the extent that when someone has pity on the poor, God sees such as if it had been done to Himself. He is a friend to the poor. God's Law to Israel contained legislation that manifested great concern for the poor (cf. Lev. 25:35ff; Deut. 15:7-8, 11). The Scripture says, "He Who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy" (Prov. 14:3 1; cf. Prov. 17:5). The Lord pleads the cause of the poor and afflicted (Prov. 22:22-23). James wrote “You have dishonored the poor man. . . You commit sin. . .” (James 2:6, 9).

Jesus taught that human kindness will be a part of the basis of the Judgment at the last day (Matt. 25:31-46). King Jesus will say to those who have shown kindness and compassion toward the needy: "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (Matt. 25:40). To those who failed in this respect He will say: "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me" (Matt. 25:45).

In Edwin Markham's, How The Great Guest Came, Conrad the Cobbler had a dream that Jesus would visit Conrad's house. Conrad arose on the day that Jesus was to come, and he tidied up his shop in preparation for The Great Guest. But Jesus never came! A beggar came, and Conrad gave him a pair of shoes. Later, a tired and hungry woman came to Conrad's door, and he gave her something to eat. Then came the visit of a lost child, and Conrad delivered the child to its mother's arms. But Jesus never came.

But wait...

Then soft in silence a voice he heard:
Lift up your heart, for I kept my word.
Three times I came to your friendly door;
Three times my shadow was on your floor.
I was the beggar with bruised feet;
I was the woman you gave to eat;
I was the child on the homeless street.

Have you been lending to the Lord?

Why You Should Attend Our Gospel Meeting
October 8th -11th, 2006 with speaker Gene Stilwell

YOUR SOUL NEEDS REFRESHING Nothing does this half so well as the purifying, cleansing of the word of God. Come and hear

YOUR LIFE NEEDS DIRECTION. Men who are lost in sin are in need of a Savior to help them find their way. Come and hear

YOUR SINS NEED FORGIVENESS. None are good enough without a God to help, a Christ to love and a Gospel to save. Come.

YOUR HOME NEEDS YOU TO BE A CHRISTIAN. Nobody else can say or do what you can, to be the example your family needs. Come.

YOUR ETERNAL DESTINY MAY BE ONCE AND FOR ALL SETTLED NOW.

It is not yet too late for you but it soon will be. Make your future bright, by living today for Christ. Come to our Gospel meeting, and stand up for right.

Our hearts and sympathy go out to the family and friends of sister Sue Church who passed away last Sunday morning (Aug 28) at Auburndale Oaks. Interment will be in Ohio and no other details were available at this printing.

Youth Devo
The monthly Teen Fellowship and Devotional is scheduled for this evening after the PM worship. See Matt Faneuf for details.

Friday Game Night
This coming Friday night is our scheduled “Game Night” in the annex. All are invited for casual fellowship, games and snacks.

Labor Day Lectureship
The annual Labor Day Lectureship hosted by the church of Christ at Sixth Street in Lakeland is scheduled for tomorrow, September 4th. Our own Bob Bauer is scheduled to speak at 9 a.m.. All are invited.

Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, "Suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me; for to such belongeth the kingdom of heaven." Precious are the many gifts God gives us, but non of more value than the gift of our children. Here is a gift we can, if we train them right, take with us to the Lord. We may precede them, but if they live for God they will also meet us there.