Rick Warren's Daily DevotionalSample

Help the Helpless

When you help the poor and the needy, the Bible says it's like loaning money to God. And God says, "I'm watching to see if you are a blessing to others people. If you are, I will bless you."

Psalm 41 says this, "God blesses those who are kind to the poor and helpless. He helps them out of their own troubles. He protects them and keeps them alive; he publicly honors them and destroys the power of their enemies." (Psalm 41:1-2 TLB)

If you want God's blessing in your life, start looking for other people less fortunate than you to help. God says if you do that he will pour out his blessing on you.

This is a principle I learned a long time ago: the more I help people who are less fortunate, the more God blesses my life. We lived out this principle at Saddleback Church a few years ago when we decided the church would feed every homeless person in Orange County three meals a day for 40 days.

I want to challenge you today - this is your action point - donate a bag of groceries to a local food pantry. If you can, do this once a week for the next six weeks. Your generosity will bless people in need and God will bless you in return.