Read
27Giving to the poor
will keep you from poverty,
but if you close your eyes
to their needs,
everyone will curse you.
28When crooks are in control,
everyone tries to hide,
but when they lose power,
good people are everywhere.
Reflect
Righteous is not a word we use in everyday speech. And because it’s a word that appears regularly in many English translations of the Bible you might be inclined to think of it as purely spiritual language. In our reading in the CEV version, the translation in verse 28 is good not righteous. And that may be underselling the idea. Paying-it-forward and random acts of kindness are things that good people do but righteous people are more about pursuing just outcomes and normally in relation to a set of standards.
Take giving to good causes. The sheer size of the charity sector and the giving behavior of people of all ages says something huge about a desire to do something good in the world. The Make Poverty History campaign that was a rallying call for global poverty relief in 2005 still resonates today. And there is a mounting body of evidence showing that giving to the poor is having positive impact. Last year the World Bank was predicting that extreme poverty in the world (set against a standard of USD1.90 a day) is likely to dip below 10% for the first time ever.
Respond
Father God, We believe your heart is for justice in this your world; that standards in your kingdom on earth are about justice, peace and goodness. Help me to play my part in making the world a better place to be in. Help me to be one of the good people everywhere. Amen.
Ashley Scott
Ashley is an independent consultant and part of the Executive Team of Forum of Bible Agencies International. Working with nonprofits, Ashley specializes in enterprise and organizational development, applying 20 years experience in international strategic planning, marketing and fundraising development. Previously, Ashley was an international EVP level leader in Christian ministries, and was a part of the pioneering team in the UK who revolutionized how Bible engagement and public Bible advocacy was understood.