God's Glory Church

“If you really pledge your neighbor’s clothes, you will return them to him before sunset.” — Exodus 22:25

Philip’s father suffered from a severe mental disorder and left home to live on the streets. After Cindy and her young son, Philip, spent an entire day searching for him, Philip became unreasonably concerned for his well-being. He asked his mother if his father and other homeless people were warm. So, they started collecting and distributing blankets and clothes to homeless people in that area. For more than ten years, Cindy has considered this her life’s work, thanking her son and her deep faith in God for helping her understand the difficulties of not having a warm place to sleep.

The Bible has long taught us to respond to the needs of others. In the book of Exodus, Moses laid out a list of principles that should guide us in dealing with those who do not have sufficient resources. If we seek to meet the needs of others, we should not treat it as a business and try to make a profit out of it (Ex. 22:24). If a person’s clothing is taken as a pledge, it must be returned before sunset, “for it is his only covering, it is a garment for his body; on what will he lie?” (v. 26).

We ask God to open our eyes and hearts to see how we can ease the pain of those who are suffering. Whether we seek to meet the needs of many or one person, we honor the Lord by treating them with dignity and care.

How has God met your needs through others? Whose needs could you meet?

Heavenly Father, please open my eyes to see the needs of others.

Author: Kirsten Holmberg