Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard (Proverbs 21:13). If there were no poor, much of the word of God, applying to their comfort, and directing our obligations, would have been written in vain. The obligation implies not only an helping hand, but a feeling heart; hearing the cry of the poor with sympathy,†1 cheerfulness,†2 self-sacrifice.†3 The stopping the ears implies cruelty or insensibility;†4 turning away from real and known distress;†5 any kind of oppression; beating down the hire of the laborer (Jam_5:4 .) beyond the power of earning the necessaries of life; and neglecting, so far as is in our power, to defend them against oppression. (Luk_18:2-4 .) Sometimes indeed it might be our duty to stop our ears. The law of God discountenances the trade of begging, with all its pathetic cries and appeals. (2Th_3:10 .) To retain therefore the poor in idleness, however compassionate or self-pleasing the motive, is to encourage, if not to participate in, sin. Considerate discretion, not feeling, should direct our charity. (Pro_29:7 .) Honest distress taxes most of us to the utmost of our power, considering our responsibility to put out all that we have, whether it be little or much, to the most profitable use. Yet ever let the withholding of charity be a constraint upon our feeling, not the indulgence of our selfishness. Count it a privilege, no less than an obligation, to minister to the poor. Ponder it as conformity to our Divine Masters spirit and work. (Mat_14:14-21 .) Consider niggardliness in giving; the useless expenses that abridge our power of helping; luxuries, while our brethren are starving around us; restraining the full extent of what we ought and might give — all this as virtually stopping our ears against their cry. Covetousness and sensuality harden the heart; and when the heart is hard, the ear is deaf.†6 This sin was wrongfully charged upon Job.†7 But wherever it be found, the stamp of divine displeasure is fearfully marked;†8 and even the sin of omission the great day will openly mark as the ground of condemnation.†9 And now, as the selfish hardness shews the man has no love to God,†10 he will find no love from God. With the same measure that he meted withal, it shall be measured to him again.†11 Did he stop his ears at the cry of the poor? God will stop his ears against his cry.†12 He that would not give a crumb on earth, was denied a drop of water in hell.†13 He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy. (Jam_2:13 .) Christian professor! study the character of thy God — pitiful and of tender mercy (Jam_5:11 ); and be like him. Remember — bowels of mercies, kindness are the ornament of the elect of God. (Col_3:12 .) [Charles Bridges Commentary on Proverbs] Footnotes: †1 Deu_15:7-11. Isa_58:6-9 . †2 Rom_12:8. 2Co_9:7 . †3 2Co_8:1-4 . Howards rule, so nobly expounded by his own self-denying devotedness — is a fine comment on this example. That our superfluities give way to other mens convenience; that our conveniences give way to other mens necessaries; and that even our necessaries sometimes give way to other mens extremities. See his Life. †4 Pro_29:7. Neh_5:1-8 . †5 Luk_10:30-32. †6 1Sa_25:10-11 . †7 Job_22:5-7, with Job_29:16 ; Job_31:16-17, Job_31:20 . †8 Pro_11:24, Pro_11:26 ; Pro_28:27 . Jer_34:10-22 . Mat_18:30-34 . †9 Mat_25:41-45. †10 1Jo_3:17 . †11 Luk_6:38. Jdg_1:6-7 . 1Sa_15:33 . †12 Job_34:24-28. Zec_7:9-13 . See Sir_4:4-6 . †13 Luk_16:21, Luk_16:24-25 .
Posted on: Fri, 22 Nov 2013 16:29:02 +0000
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