Oppressing the poor
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor (Proverbs 14:31).
Everywhere the poor are oppressed. Even Christians oppress the poor in their business dealings. We are not generous in giving a few more rupees to the street vendors but try to bargain with them and deprive them of their profits. Our actions result in reproaching their Maker whom we worship in our churches. Our worship loses its meaning if we reproach the Maker of the poor.
If we honour God, then we have mercy on the poor. Our mercy towards the poor should come from a heart which loves God and obeys His commandments. Children of the world who do not love and honour God have in fact no mercy on the poor. They do charity with a selfish motive.
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