LET US STOP THE ABUSE – By Rt. Rev. Epraim O. Ikeakor,JP.

ABUSE OF THE POOR AND THE INDIGENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF HUMAN ABUSE. YOU GIVE THE POOR FOOD ITEMS AND MATERIAL RELIEF, AND GET THEM POSE FOR PHOTOGRAPHS, AND YOU POST THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUBLIC DOMAIN. PEOPLE ARE HAILING AND APPLAUDING YOU,AND YOU ARE HAPPY…….THIS IS HUMILIATING THE POOR. THIS IS ABUSE OF THE POOR WHO ARE CARRYING GOD’S IMAGE. ….ABUSING THE POOR TANTAMOUNT TO ABUSING GOD.
…..THEY DID NOT CHOOSE TO BE POOR AND INDIGENT BY THEMSELVES. PROVIDENCE AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF NATURE AND LIFE BROUGHT THEM THERE. UNFORTUNATELY, CHRISTIANS,CHURCHES AND CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATIONS ARE BECOMING PART OF THE ABUSE. THE HOLY BIBLE PROVIDES US WITH THE RIGHT, RIGHTEOUS AND ACCEPTABLE WAY FOR DOING CHARITABLE DEEDS, AND GIVING ALMS TO THE POOR AND NEEDY AMONG US.
…..” Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, give alms to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the Synagogues and in the Streets, that they may have glory and praise from men. I say to you,they have received their reward(from men). But when you do a charitable deed or give alms to the poor, DO NOT LET YOUR LEFT HAND KNOW WHAT YOUR RIGHT HAND IS DOING, so that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Heavenly Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:2-4)
……THERE IS GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHRISTIAN CHARITY , AND SECULAR HUMANISM.
……THE FORMER SEEKS GOD’S GLORY AND REWARD, BUT THE LATTER SEEKS GLORY FROM MEN AND HUMAN APPLAUSE.
…..,THE FORMER PURSUES GOD’S PURPOSE AND MISSION,BUT THE LATTER HAS SELFISH ULTERIOR MOTIVE, AND AGENDA.
…… DON’T GIVE TO EMBARRASS THE POOR. IT MAKES GOOD ANGRY.
…..DON’T GIVE TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS.
…..DON’T GIVE TO COLLECT ACCOLADES FROM MEN, OR MILLIONS OF LIKES FROM SOCIAL MEDIA.
…….THE POOR ARE GOD’S SPECIAL PROJECT AND ASSIGNMENT TO THE RICH AND WELL-T-DO.
……. THE POOR ARE THE DELIBERATE LAZARUS(ES)THAT GOD HAS DELIBERATELY PLACED AT THE GATE AND DOOR OF THE HIGH AND MIDDLE CLASS.
…..OUR ATTITUDE TO THE POOR IS A REFLECTION OF OUR SPIRITUAL ALTITUDE IN GOD.
….. LET US STOP ABUSING THE POOR; AND LET US TREAT THEM WITH HONOUR, RESPECT,DIGNITY, DECORUM, AND GODLY DISPOSITION.
……. YOUR MOTIVE IN GIVING TO THE POOR IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE GIFT YOU GIVE TO THEM.
……. GOD IS WATCHING ALL OF US .
……POLITICAL AND SOCIAL GIVING HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH CHRISTIAN GIVING.
GIVE TO THE POOR AS AN INVESTMENT FOR YOU IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD.