Daily Devotional
               Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.   

  The Wisdom of God

Verses for the Day:  

Proverbs 28:3 (KJV): A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

Proverbs 28:3 (AMP):  A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaves no food (plundering them of their last morsels).

Thoughts for the Day:

This verse from Proverbs tells us that when one who is a wicked person, and is similar in need, takes advantage of their own kind, they are like the destruction of a sweeping rain. Instead of identifying with the plight of poverty, a wicked poor person will exploit their fellow victims. This is such a mean thing for a person to do, when they plunder those who are already suffering under poverty with further oppression. Jesus told a story of this kind of behavior in the book of Matthew.

Matthew 18:23-35:
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

In this story, we see that the Lord and master of this servant was kind to him and forgave the debt that he owed. However, when one of the fellow-servants of this man owed him money, his attitude toward him was not the same as his master's attitude was toward him. He was mean and demanding and had him thrown in prison for not paying his debt.  When the master heard of the treatment of this man, he called him a wicked servant.  He called him in and reminded him that he forgave the debt owed to him, and he also chastised him for his lack of compassion and pity. It made the lord of this servant angry, and he changed his mind and had him thrown in prison for the debt that he owed him. He told him he would remain in prison until it was all paid. 

Jesus then used this story to tell his children that we must forgive our brothers and sisters of their trespasses against us, because He has forgiven us of ours.  If we refuse to forgive others, the Lord will allow the torments of the devil to bring us into a prison of bitterness and pain. Unforgiveness hurts the one who carries it, more than the one who it is directed toward. One line of the Lord's Prayer gives us an example of how we should pray and ask for forgiveness.

Matthew 6:12-15:
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

If we fail to forgive others, it can bring us into temptation and evil, and we can embrace a root of bitterness that will block our blessings and hinder our walk with God.  The virtues of kindness, compassion and forgiveness are traits of our heavenly Father and should also be character traits of all of His children.

Prayer for the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You for forgiving me of all of my sins and trespasses. Father, may I always be quick to forgive others for their trespasses against me.  Lord, I pray that all of Your children live in harmony with each other, and that we all possess a kind and forgiving disposition. Lord, give us love and understanding for each other in the family of God. Let us lift each other up when any of us fall down and may we have Your virtues of grace and mercy toward each other.  I ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.