Psalm 113:5-7
When you hear that God is enthroned on high, it’s easy to assume that he must therefore be totally disconnected from the harsh realities of our world. The psalmist makes it clear that the opposite is true. Mighty and exalted as he undoubtedly is, God is also intimately concerned about what is happening here in the world. So much so that he not only looks down at what is going on but takes action to rectify the situation.
The whole Bible shows a concern for the poor. The law of Moses insisted on the poor being protected and supported. The prophets continually reminded people of their duty to care for the most vulnerable, and Jesus went out of his way to reach out to the weak and marginalised. In every society there are poor people, and yet the majority of us try to get on with life as if they don’t exist.
God calls us to care for the poor in our society. After a visit to the UK in 2018, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, expressed great concern that “14 million people, a fifth of the population, live in poverty. Four million of these are more than 50 per cent below the poverty line, and 1.5 million are destitute, unable to afford basic essentials.” That’s an incredibly shocking statement and it is deeply worrying that the situation has only got worse with the pandemic and the recent sharp down-turn in the economy.


Children are amongst the most vulnerable members of our society and so we have a special responsibility to care for them. Child Poverty Action Group has defined child poverty as existing when parents can’t afford to pay for basics such as food, housing and clothes - it affects one in four children in the UK. 46 per cent of children from black and minority ethnic groups are in poverty in the UK, compared with 26 per cent of children in white British families.
God is still in the business of lifting the poor from the dust and the needy from the garbage dump, and he looks to us to make it happen.




QUESTION
In what ways are you able to help the poor in your community?
PRAYER
Lord God, I thank you that you care for the poor and vulnerable. Help me to find ways to reflect your love to all those who are marginalised in my community. Amen

Released on 17 Feb 2023