Friday: Further Thought ~ Blueprint for a Better World
Further Thought: Read Ellen G. White, “The Law Given to Israel”, pages 303-314; “God’s Care for the Poor”, pages 530-536, in Patriarchs and Prophets.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
“There is nothing, after their recognition of the claims of God, that more distinguishes the laws given by Moses than the liberal, tender, and hospitable spirit enjoined toward the poor. Although God had promised greatly to bless His people, it was not His design that poverty should be wholly unknown among them. He declared that the poor should never cease out of the land. There would ever be those among His people who would call into exercise their sympathy, tenderness, and benevolence. Then, as now, persons were subject to misfortune, sickness, and loss of property; yet so long as they followed the instruction given by God, there were no beggars among them, neither any who suffered for food”. – Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 530, 531.
“These regulations were designed to bless the rich no less than the poor. They would restrain avarice and a disposition for self-exaltation, and would cultivate a noble spirit of benevolence; and by fostering good will and confidence between all classes, they would promote social order, the stability of government. We are all woven together in the great web of humanity, and whatever we can do to benefit and uplift others will reflect in blessing upon ourselves”. – Pages 534, 535.
Discussion Questions:
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Summary: God heard the cries of the suffering people of Israel in Egypt and intervened to rescue them. He sought to build a special covenant relationship with them and to work with them to establish a new society that would be a blessing to all, even those often forgotten, marginalized, and vulnerable.
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The real test of Christianity is not how well we understand doctrine, nor the beauty and harmony of our singing, not the quality of our sermons, not the size of our congregations, but how we treat one another. And in particular, how we treat those who have been disenfranchised by society and indeed the church. One could be excused, after reading some of this lesson, for thinking that all we have to do is pay for these people to be helped. While not dismissing the usefulness of money in our society, the real element that is missing is often the personal touch. What is the use of a second tithe if we give it but fail to spend a few moments talking to the lonely?
The blueprint is a working plan, not a sacred relic. We need to get it dirty by recognizing the need and doing something about it. That means, going outside our comfort zone.
When Ellen White, lived in Cooranbong, where I now live, she was known as the woman who helped others in need. It was while she lived here she wrote "Desire of Ages". The way she lived gave credibility to what she wrote.
Dear Maurice, I don’t usually reply to messages but this time I felt to.
Thank you for your comments and you are so right, we tend to focus more on which song we sing or which doctrine to follow. In doing so, we miss the message God has given us, to look after each other.
Thank you for your messages and God bless.
Elizabeth
God's Blue print - a design for living the purpose of God in a sinful world.
God who hears - I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. We serve a savior, who is intimately involved in our life. He is listening all the time.
God's Spirit - Him dwelling in us alone frees us from the condemnation of the law.
God's Message - Remember your past life of slavery to sin just because you have overcome and standing does not give you right to mistreat your brother who is struggling. Remember to share the patience God was willing to show in your life.
God's providence - It is God who gives do not test Him by withholding what belongs to Him.
God's Finance - The land shall not be sold permanently because the ultimate owner is Christ.
God's Fast - Isaiah 58
6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
God has given us a blue print to live on this earth.
It is unnatural for us to live God's blue print; therefore, we must surrender to Him who is able to live the holy life in us.
Matt 23:23. Jesus words - woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!........you have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith. Do people still operate in this manner? Jesus is Lord. He gave rules and guidelines for their present and future. He knew the time will come when the rich ( by honesty or self made ) will trample on the rights of the poor. He warned against the rich taking bribes from the rich to turn judgement to favor themselves. They, the poor can’t rep themselves therefore they struggle day by day. The group represented by the poor have to pay the same price as those who have more. While having to doing so, they do not have the capacity to do so. By having these laws they can be brought closer to Jesus knowing he cares for them.