Regard for the Weak

May 2

(Psalm 41:1-4 NIV) “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the Lord delivers him in times of trouble. {2} The Lord will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes. {3} The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness. {4} I said, "O Lord, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you."

(Acts 20:35 NIV) “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

(James 1:27 NIV) “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

God has a special place in His heart for the weak. Throughout Scripture, He calls His people to look out for orphans, widows, and those in distress. When others are vulnerable and unable to care for themselves, the follower of Jesus steps up and offers aid. For obedience to this call, the Lord offers blessing. David saw his deliverance, protection, preservation and healing as blessing for caring for the weak. The world today has little regard for the weak. Unborn babies are cut to pieces and their dead bodies used as fuel to heat buildings and generate electricity. Roaming gangs of youth molest, pillage, and steal from those who cannot defend themselves. Politicians talk compassion, but forget the poor after they’ve been elected. Is it any wonder that blessing seems to have slipped out the back window of our nation? Blessed are they who have regard for the weak. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day