What responsibilities does Deuteronomy 24:18 suggest for Christians towards the less fortunate? Scripture Focus “Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I am commanding you to do this.” (Deuteronomy 24:18) Key Truths Embedded in the Verse • Remember your own rescue • Let that memory shape your treatment of others • See generosity toward the vulnerable as an explicit command, not an optional extra Practical Responsibilities for Christians Today • Active compassion – Seek out the poor, the immigrant, the orphan, the widow; don’t wait for them to find you. • Generous provision – Budget time, skills, and money so that part of what you earn is deliberately left “in the field” for others (vv.19–22 give the immediate context of leaving gleanings). • Fair and dignified treatment – Reject exploitation in hiring, lending, or everyday business; insist on just wages and honest scales (cf. Deuteronomy 24:14-15). • Personal involvement – Serve face-to-face whenever possible; love isn’t outsourced. • Grateful motivation – Remember Christ’s redemption of you; let gratitude fuel mercy (2 Corinthians 8:9). Supporting Scriptures • James 1:27 — “Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” • 1 John 3:17 — “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no compassion on him, how can the love of God abide in him?” • Proverbs 19:17 — “Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.” • Matthew 25:40 — “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.” Heart Attitudes to Cultivate • Humility — remembering our former slavery to sin • Gratitude — celebrating our redemption in Christ • Empathy — entering the struggles of others • Stewardship — viewing resources as God’s, entrusted for service Ways to Put This Into Practice This Week • Identify one local ministry serving the homeless or single-parent families and volunteer an hour. • Set aside a “gleaning” portion of your paycheck—perhaps 5-10%—for benevolence giving. • Invite someone who can’t repay you for a meal (Luke 14:12-14 echoes this principle). • Audit your business or workplace practices to ensure every employee and customer is treated justly. Remembered redemption fuels active mercy; Deuteronomy 24:18 turns gratitude into concrete care for the least advantaged among us. |
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