Welcome to Bible Talk with Jessica! Moses continues to talk today about not worshipping false idols, tithing, animals the Israelites can and cannot eat, and more. It’s all stuff he’s said before, but I think he wants to make sure the next generation hears it before Moses passes away. He wants to make sure the Israelites are all in once they enter the Promised Land. Can you imagine being there while he was talking? Sometimes when I read the bible I try to picture being there!
Let’s get started!
Please note – I am not a pastor. I have had no bible training, gone to bible school, or anything like that. I do not consider myself a bible scholar at all. I am just someone who loves the Lord, loves reading the bible, and would love to talk with others about it. This is a place for me to do that. We may not agree on everything I post. I ask that all comments remain polite, and honoring to the Lord. I am just here sharing what the Lord lays on my heart, what I’ve learned, and what jumps out at me as I read. I hope you’ll join me in reading your bible as well and share what you’ve learned!
Scripture Reading for Today
Deuteronomy 13:1 – 16:17
Verse of the Day
Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
Deuteronomy 15:10
Bible Talk
In this portion of scripture, Moses is talking about lending money to others, and the terms surrounding the repayment. But he also talks about giving to the poor. God wants us to give with a cheerful heart. He wants us to be joyful in giving. We should want to give to those in need. I think sometimes we can struggle with this.
Those who have money sometimes want to hang on to their money, and all for different reasons. Maybe they have a love for money. Maybe they want to make sure they have a savings account to cover something happening in the future. Maybe they don’t have a lot of money at all, and so they need it for bills. Whatever the case, there are reasons (good and bad) that people want to hang on to their money.
God wants to make sure that the poor are taken care of, and sometimes He can use us as the means to do so. It could be giving them actual money, buying them a meal, giving them a coat. So many ways we can help the poor. I live in small town America, and when we drive into a bigger area to get groceries, we do see some homeless people. They stand on the street with signs asking for money. Sometimes they even stand at intersections hoping that people stopped at the stop light will help them out.
I’ll admit – I am leery of this. There I said it. Yes, I am a pessimist at times. I think it’s because I have seen people do this who really don’t need to (they just want more stuff) and so I have become hard hearted to them. And shame on me. My job is not to judge. My job is to give and let God handle the rest.
About a month or so ago, I was shopping with my daughter. We had got some food from McDonalds and saw a man at the intersection. My daughter pulled over, grabbed one of our fries and a couple dollars, and gave it to this man. He didn’t speak orally, but he did sign to her so we assume that perhaps he was deaf. Me, being the cold hearted person that I am, probably wouldn’t have done that. But my daughter did. She chose to see that perhaps this man really did need help, and he deserved some warm fries after standing out in the cold. She didn’t give him a lot of money, but he took what she gave him and thanked her. He seemed genuinely thankful. Yes, I had a moment of shame in her car.
I think it was then that the Lord kind of nudged my heart and melted it a little. And in today’s reading I was reminded of the same. Give to the poor. Do so with a happy heart. The Lord will bless you for it. Maybe not today, maybe not while you’re alive on earth. But you will gain a blessing for it. Sometimes our children can teach us in ways we never expected. My daughter taught me that day, and I am forever thankful that she has a giving heart.
What did you learn from today’s reading?