THINK TOGETHER.
Do you know what the word poverty means?
READ TOGETHER
Proverbs 6:10-11. 10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
Poverty is a big topic in the Bible and especially in the book of Proverbs. Poverty means that a person or family doesn't have enough to meet their daily basic needs. Poverty is a big problem in the world. There are many people who struggle to have enough food to eat, or to have supplies for school, or buy medicines that they need.
In today's verses Solomon is warning us that our laziness can cause poverty. And that is very true. But it is important for us to know that not everyone that is poor is poor because they are lazy. In fact, the great majority of poor people are not poor because they are lazy, they are poor for many other reasons including being mistreated or because of injustice (do you know what injustice is?).
Proverbs 13:23. The field of the poor may yield much food, but it is swept away through injustice.
The Bible also makes it very clear that we are to honor God by loving the poor and helping the poor whenever and however we can.
Proverbs 14:31. Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him.
Laziness is a sin. Being poor is not a sin. Jesus himself was poor but not lazy. Jesus chose to be poor for us when he left heaven and came to earth. While he was on earth spreading the good news of his kingdom, Jesus lived a poor life. Maybe some people even called him lazy. But Jesus wasn't lazy, he was loving. He became poor so that we could become rich. He gave up everything so that we could have everything through him. Now we too can reject laziness and work to help the poor instead, knowing that Jesus has given us his riches in heaven.
Because of Jesus we have all we need.
With Jesus we can work hard to help the poor.
DO SOMETHING TOGETHER
Talk about ways that your family can help the poor.
PRAY TOGETHER
Jesus, thank you for sharing your riches with me and for working in my life. Amen.
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