He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done. (Proverbs 19:17)

Duane Zook, Global Chairman of Global Aid Network, prays for a young earthquake victim, whose mother and father could not be found.

The recent cataclysmic earthquake in Haiti has galvanized much of the world into action, an amazing response that includes a number of supernatural components including seeing the hearts of several world leaders moved (Proverbs 21:1). Though hundreds of thousands were killed, millions were spared with remarkable testimonies of survival being shared for many days afterward.

Did you know that when you help someone who is poor that you are directly making a loan to God? Not that God needs anything from us, but He has set things up in this world to work through the hands of women and men to take our ordinary talents and multiply them into extraordinary blessings to those who have nothing.

But God rewards us for our kindness to the poor whether they be someone who has been dug out of the rubble in Port-au-Prince; an orphaned child in a desolate, war-torn land; or an elderly neighbor who is desperately trying to hold onto her home. When you help the poor, you are ministering to God.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. (Matthew 25:35, 36)

Clearly, God gives us many chances to help people who are impoverished physically, spiritually, or both. Even if the world was somehow a place where everyone’s temporal needs were taken care of, the spiritual need would remain.

But our world is far from being that comfortable place as wars, famine, disease, corrupt governments, and a host of other reasons conspire to keep people down. Yes, you will even have a group of people who simply will not work, but I am not talking about them. Untold millions are poor, needing to be ministered to, but the workers are few though the harvest is great.

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37-38)

You may not be called to go on a mission trip, but you certainly can be missional minded. That kind of thinking has you praying and taking action as the Lord leads, seeking for ways to make a difference in the lives of the poor, giving to God with the side benefit that you will be rewarded for your efforts.

Photo Credit: Global Aid Network (Campus Crusade for Christ)

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A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men — Proverbs 18:16 (WEB).

How important is it to give a gift? Well, judging by this one scripture in Proverbs, it can be extremely important.

I’m old enough to recall a time when it was commonplace for people to give gifts at Christmastime to people who were helpful to them throughout the year. Back then it was expected that you would tip the mailman, butcher, delivery boy, doorman and anyone else in a service position. Those tips usually helped to compensate for a modest salary, providing a nice year end gift to see the person through the holiday season.

But, it was also considered by many to be a “bribe” of sorts to curry favor with the recipient. If you wanted the doorman to hail a taxi for you in a driving rain or have the newspaper boy leave your news in a dry place, then you’d compensate them accordingly, otherwise you’d risk being ignored for the ensuing twelve month period!

Jacob was someone who was wise to the importance of not only giving a gift but a very big one at that. In his case his powerful brother Esau was the recipient although Jacob’s motive for blessing him was purely a matter of self preservation.

You see, the last time that they saw each other Jacob tricked their father, Isaac, into blessing him instead of Esau (Genesis 27:27-29). Jacob fled the scene with Esau pondering Jacob’s demise in his heart (Genesis 27:41); those words were relayed to Jacob via their mother Rebekah (v.42), which forced Jacob to flee and stay away for many years.

Upon returning, Jacob feared that Esau would still be angry with him, hence the unusually large gift to appease his brother.

So he spent the night there. Then he selected from what he had with him a present for his brother Esau: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milking camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys — Genesis 32:12-14 (NASB).

I can think of a better gift to receive and one without any strings (or hard feelings) attached whatsoever — God’s salvation.

You see, God sent His son into the world not to condemn the world but that the world would be saved through Jesus (John 3:17). It is a gift that was freely given, available to all humankind and something you cannot earn, buy, or trade for. Your gifts to God are nothing in comparison to what He has for you, although giving your life to Him is one gift that God will always receive.

I certainly can do nothing to merit God’s favor and I’m actually glad for that. Even before I was fully aware that my sins separated me from God, the gift of salvation was there waiting.

When I recognized my sinfulness and my need to be forgiven, I unlocked a gift that keeps on giving. I understood that Jesus dying for my sins and rising from the dead absolved me of my sins and opened the way to life everlasting.

Most gifts are quickly forgotten, often forsaken and sometimes broken or delivered with strings attached. The gift of salvation has been given by God which allows the recipient to be brought before the One who is above great men.

Have you opened up your gift of salvation yet?

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The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes. (Proverbs 21:1, NKJV)

The U.S. Presidential Election will be held in a few months, a quadrennial rite of passage that has been in the news almost constantly since January 2007. Two candidates are squaring off — Barack Obama for the Democratic Party and John McCain for the Republican Party. Yes, there are a handful of third party candidates represented but they have virtually no chance of becoming president.

Lots of people are not happy with their choices this year, particularly Christians who see that both candidates hold positions contradictory to their own. Pro-lifers won’t consider Obama because of his staunch pro-abortion views. Some conservatives are staying away from McCain because they believe he is a RINO — Republican In Name Only. I know of some Christians who aren’t planning to vote for president, believing that the best candidates are not running.

A Tale Of Four Kings

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the elections and have come to an important conclusion, one that I believe God has revealed to me. It is this: whomever is elected president is subject to the authority of God, whether they willingly submit their lives to Him or not.

In particular, Proverbs 21:1 has ministered to me as I know that the next president will do nothing apart from the watchful eye of the Lord. From time to time God may actually intervene and change the president’s mind when it comes to an important issue, though we may not always see evidence of God’s intervention.

Along with this verse, I found four accounts in the Bible where God intervened in world affairs, changing the hearts of rulers to carry out His will. They aren’t the only kings who have had a change of mind down through the years, but they represent four whom God touched to reveal his divine authority in this world.

Pharaoh — Read the book of Exodus and you’ll find the spiritual battle that the children of Israel encountered as they attempted to leave Egypt. Pharaoh (king of Egypt) was none too happy when the children of Israel attempted to leave, hardening his heart six times (Exodus 7:13, 7:22, 8:15, 8:19, 8:32, and 9:7) before God finally hardened his heart the seventh time. God gave Pharaoh many chances to repent, but even after debilitating plagues virtually destroyed his country, Pharaoh resisted God. Therefore, to accomplish His will, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

Nebuchadnezzar — The arrogance of Nebuchadnezzar caught God’s attention, resulting in the king of Babylon being humbled. Even after tossing Daniel and his friends in a fiery furnace (Daniel 3), Nebuchadnezzar’s proud heart was lifted up before God. Apparently, Nebuchadnezzar’s praising of God at the end of the chapter was only lip service because in Daniel 4:32 he was driven away from men and he began to live as an animal (v.33). Once his appointed time of discipline had ended, Nebuchadnezzar returned to his senses and praised God.

Belshazzar — Chaldeans took over where Babylon reigned, but the arrogance of the former rulers was very present with the new rulers. The greatest offense was noted in Daniel 5:3 where it was noted that the Chaldeans had “brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them.” The fingers of a man’s hand were soon seen writing on a nearby wall, announcing God’s judgment on Belshazzar who lost his life that same night, replaced by the Medes. Though Belshazzar has a change of heart and gave glory to God immediately before his death, judgment was set in motion and his kingdom fell.

Cyrus — When it came time for the temple to be rebuilt, God used His people to complete the work. God also turned the hearts of rulers, particularly Cyrus, to allow the temple work to go through (Ezra 1:1 — “…the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all kingdom…”). This decree was later reaffirmed by King Darius (Ezra 6:1) when opposition rose up from Israel’s enemies who temporarily put a stop to the rebuilding.

Presidents, Nations, and all of the King’s Men

What I find startling about some Christians’ attitudes concerning this coming election is putting too much emphasis on the affairs of this world. Most certainly, where possible we should live at peace with all men, but there is something else that we should remember: the nations of this world are as nothing to God:

Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. (Isaiah 40:15, NASB)

Verse 17 brings it all home — “All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.”

If that doesn’t tell you how God views world affairs, there isn’t anything that can do that. Clearly, having a Godward view of this world will put everything back in rightful perspective.

Pray For Our Rulers

Now then, how should we live? Praying for our rulers is a command given in 1 Timothy, Chapter 2 so that we might live in peace and that they might be saved. That’s right, presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama need to know the Lord as do members of Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court, governors, legislators, local officials, our neighbors — everyone!

With that kind of attitude, the pressures we are feeling about this year’s election will fade away no matter who is put into office. Remember: Our God is in control!

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (I Timothy 2:1-4; KJV)

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