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A Lazarus among the poor in the streets and hedges


He who is generous to the poor lends to the LORD; He will repay him in full measure. (Proverbs 19:17)

———————

It is not wrong to invite our friends and relatives to a banquet. In many parts of Scripture the celebrations of brothers and neighbors are spoken of without being condemned as wrong.

But no banquets are as pleasant as those given to the poor. Rich guests often come unwillingly, and go away without giving thanks. But the poor gather with delight around the wellspread table, and depart thanking the generous hand that prepared it.

They enjoy just few pleasures, and they encounter only little kindness.

The rich have the means to illuminate their dark path, and to make them forget their sorrows even just for a short while.

To invite the poor pleases the Lord.

Among those gathered from streets and hedges, there may be a Lazarus whom we shall meet again at the heavenly feast; it will be pleasant then to feel that we ministered to him here as one of God's saints.

Yes, there are wicked people among the poor; but the kindness of the rich often softens their hearts to receive godly counsel.

There are godly rich people who find ways to make their banquets beneficial to the souls of their poor guests, as well as refreshing to their bodies.

The reformer and martyr John Hooper, while he was bishop of Gloucester, welcomed daily a certain number of the poor with a supper in his great hall; but first he examined them in the creed, the Lord's prayer, and the ten commandments; and he would only sit down to eat when his poor guests had already been served.

Well, what did Christ say?

“When you put on a luncheon or a banquet don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” (Luke 14:12-14)

Had people valued Christ's estimation, the rich would not be given so many receptions as they now enjoy, and there would be many more given to the poor.

Those words, “God will reward you,” sound very sweetly in the ear of a true Christian.

To be blessed by God is his desire.

Because the poor cannot repay him for the kindness he shows them, the Lord will remember it; even as a father goes about to reward every service rendered to his children.

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