Deuteronomy 15:7-8

If there is among you anyone in need,
a member of your community
in any of your towns within the land
that the Lord your God is giving you,
do not be hard-hearted or
tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor.
You should rather open your hand,
willingly lending enough to meet the need,
whatever it may be.

If there is among you anyone in need… where do we begin? 

• Anyone in need, like the sick and dying.
• Anyone in need, like the vulnerable, tired and worn essential workers.
• Anyone in need, like the masses of people filing for unemployment.
• Anyone in need, like students who are missing their teachers, classmates, and meals.
• Anyone in need, like those who are not sure if their jobs are recession proof.
• Anyone in need, like the fearful ones who live and work in congregate living settings.
• Anyone in need, like those who live alone and yearn for human contact.
• Anyone in need, like parents trying to work and teach.
• Anyone in need, like the ones living in even deeper poverty than before.
• Anyone in need, like… the list seems endless.

Knowing that I can not meet the needs of this world no matter how desperate I am to do something, feels paralyzing. Even so, God commands me to start with a member of my community, a neighbor, just one person at a time. You can be sure that generosity toward one person in need makes an impact. Imagine what we could do together.

– Pastor Sara

Prayer

Generous God, open my eyes to see the need, open my heart to care, open my hands to act, and open my ears to listen to a neighbor in need. Amen.