Healthy Heart, Open Hands

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 “If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.

God's heart is certainly for the poor. We, those who are blessed, are God's tools for meeting the needs of the poor. It's not about fairness or right or quantity or measure - it's a heart thing. Hard hearts disobediently hoard while healthy hearts generously give from open hands.
And when our hearts are right and healthy with God, we do not give according to what we have to lend, but according to what is needed. God calls us to give sufficiently to the need, not adequately according to our resources. God knows what we have and what we will have at all times. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalm 50:10) and can use each one as He chooses. I can be certain that He will care for me as I care for the poor.

God - soften my heart to those in need and give me open hands. Help me to give according to needs, not resources. Amen.

You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.