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Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Wednesday, 7 May 2025:
Deuteronomy 15:1–2 – “At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release. And this is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release what he has lent to his neighbor… because the Lord’s release has been proclaimed.”
God instituted a system of debt release to prevent the accumulation of generational poverty and to remind His people that all they had was a gift from Him. This radical practice reflected God’s mercy and modeled His heart for freedom and restoration. For Christians, it points to the spiritual reality of forgiveness through Christ—the release of our unpayable debt. We are called to extend grace, just as grace has been extended to us. Letting go of what others owe us—whether financial or emotional—is an act of faith in God’s justice and provision.
Debt release and forgiveness in general are acts of thanksgiving and sacrifice before the Lord as we express immense gratitude, not only for God’s mercy and grace, but also for the unimaginable price He paid to give it to us – G.R.A.C.E. – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Mercy and grace are only free to the recipient. The giver must pay the price. For example, if someone owes you money, and you cancel the debt, they are freed from the debt, but you must labor to make up for the loss. The cheerful giver is happy to suffer loss to offer grace due to true love for God and others, love which has been cultivated over time through labors of love empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Developing Christlike character which “loves” to give and forgive often requires us to give and forgive when it is hard for us to do it until it increasingly becomes what we actually want to do – obedience usually comes before obsession. Character development requires practice. Practice giving and forgiving, not as an act of willpower but as an act of fellowship with the Lord. Examine in yourself where giving and forgiving remain difficult for you and take this to the Lord in prayer. Pray for God to increasingly give you increased faith and His heart for others, a heart eager to forgive enemies and wash the feet of betrayers. Practice giving and forgiving until you can’t help but do it because it is who you are.
- 1 John 5:3 — For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
Deuteronomy 15:4–5 – “But there will be no poor among you; for the Lord will bless you… if only you will strictly obey the voice of the Lord your God…”
God’s vision for His people was a society where no one lacked basic needs—if they obeyed Him. Obedience to God’s commands creates conditions for human flourishing. While sin and disobedience often perpetuate poverty, obedience leads to blessing and equity. Christians are called to pursue justice, generosity, and compassionate community, working toward a church and society where the vulnerable are not neglected.
Deuteronomy 15:7–8 – “If among you… any of your brothers should become poor… you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand… but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be.”
God commands generosity not just as an act, but as a heart posture as mentioned above. Hard-heartedness is the enemy of compassion and a violation of the Greatest Commandment of Love. Open-handed generosity reflects the heart of God and fulfills the Greatest Commandment of loving God and others. Christians are not to be calculated or reluctant in helping others but to be eager to meet needs when they arise, and eagerness fueled by faith hop and love – trusting God’s perfect love and provision enough to love and provide for others, even beyond your apparent needs. This generosity should be marked by personal sacrifice.
- 2 Corinthians 8:3 — For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord,
Deuteronomy 15:9–10 – “Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the Lord against you, and you be guilty of sin. You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.”
These verses confront a deeply human tendency: self-protection in the face of sacrificial generosity. Knowing that debts would be canceled at the end of the seventh year, some Israelites might be tempted to refuse loans out of fear they wouldn’t be repaid. God calls this mindset “unworthy” and warns that withholding generosity in such a moment is not just unkind—it’s sinful.
This instruction profoundly illustrates God’s expectation of grace-driven generosity. His people are to give not based on expected return, but based on His grace to them. The foundation of their giving was not economic prudence, but covenantal love and trust in God’s provision. It reflects God’s own character: He is a generous God who gives freely, even to those who cannot repay. The principle here echoes the gospel—give as you have freely received (cf. Matthew 10:8).
In the New Testament, this principle is amplified. Jesus teaches us to “lend, expecting nothing in return” (Luke 6:35), and Paul reminds us that “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). The heart of biblical generosity is not transactional—it is transformational. It imitates the lavish grace of God, who gave His Son for us not when we were worthy, but when we were spiritually bankrupt.
So, Deuteronomy 15:9–10 not only adds to but deepens our understanding of God’s expectation: His people are to reflect His heart by trusting Him enough to give without fear, even when logic says otherwise. It’s a radical call to faith-filled generosity grounded in God’s faithfulness.
God not only cares about what we give, but how we give it. Grudging generosity is not true generosity. God blesses cheerful, willing giving because it mirrors His own giving nature. Our giving should be marked by joy, not resentment, and rooted in trust that God will supply all our needs.
Deuteronomy 15:11 – “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’”
This verse provides a sobering but compassionate command from God: while poverty is an ongoing reality in a fallen world, it must never become an excuse for neglect. Instead, God’s people are called to consistently “open wide” their hands—lavishly, generously, and willingly. This open-handedness is not merely a financial practice but a spiritual one. It requires humility, love, and a kingdom mindset.
The Bible does not present wealth as inherently sinful or poverty as inherently righteous. The issue is never the possession of money, but the love of it (1 Tim. 6:10). Abraham was wealthy and faithful; Judas was poor and betrayed Christ for silver. What matters is the heart. Christians are called to steward their resources—whether little or much—with justice, compassion, and generosity.
Poverty has many causes. Some suffer due to tragedy or unforeseen calamity. These should be helped eagerly and without hesitation, reflecting the kind of care described in James 1:27: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God… is to visit orphans and widows in their affliction.” Others suffer from exploitation or injustice, requiring advocacy and systemic correction (Lev. 19:15). Some choose poverty for the sake of the kingdom—such as missionaries, ministers, or those who sacrifice high-paying careers to serve others. And yes, some are impoverished due to laziness or irresponsibility, and in such cases, Scripture teaches accountability and the dignity of work (2 Thess. 3:10). However, never forget that no one deserves the grace they receive. While we were “still” sinners, Christ died for us. You might say, “If I offer grace to this person,” they will only continue to behave in the same way,” but do you not do the same before God? Holding people accountable is only appropriate for a Christian when done in a way intended for the very best of the one held accountable and those impacted by that person, always with the goal of reconciliation.
True wisdom and Christlike compassion involve discernment, not assumptions. It is easy to generalize and dismiss the poor as lazy or undeserving. But the gospel compels us to see people through the eyes of grace. Jesus Himself became poor for our sake (2 Cor. 8:9; Matt. 8:20), and He calls us to do likewise—to sacrificially love, serve, and give without expecting anything in return.
This verse commands more than charity. It commands an attitude—an “open-handedness” that reflects the very heart of God. It confronts self-protection, greed, and judgmentalism. It forms Christlike character through generosity. A life open to the poor is a life open to God.
Deuteronomy 15:15 – “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God redeemed you; therefore I command you this today.”
The call to generosity is grounded in remembrance. Once again, Israel was to treat others with mercy because they had been shown mercy. Christians, too, must remember that we were once enslaved to sin and have been redeemed by grace. This memory fuels compassion. We forgive, give, and serve not out of superiority, but out of shared humility as recipients of mercy. There is an old adage, “The older I get, the better I was.” We often forget from where we came, leading to prideful callousness to others less ‘mature’ than us. There are no grace graduates; we all rely on grace, and we all must live in grace.
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 7 May 2025: Open wide your hand to someone in need today—generously and without judgment—as an act of worship and a reflection of God’s mercy to you.
Pray for wisdom to discern needs around you, whether financial, emotional, or spiritual, and meet them freely, joyfully, and sacrificially. Let your generosity be shaped not by guilt or social pressure but by love and obedience to the God who opened His hand to you in Christ. This is where Christlike character is forged—in quiet, costly acts of mercy that mirror the heart of the Father.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 