How can we support those who "go about naked" and "carry sheaves"? Grasping the Scene in Job 24:10 “Without clothing, they wander about naked. They carry the sheaves, but still go hungry.” (Job 24:10) Job paints two realities: • “go about naked” – people so poor they lack even basic covering. • “carry the sheaves” – laborers harvesting someone else’s grain yet denied its nourishment. Both conditions cry out for tangible, compassionate action from God’s people. Why Their Need Matters to the Lord • Proverbs 19:17 – “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will reward him for what he has done.” • Isaiah 58:7 – true fast: “to share your bread with the hungry and to bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him.” • Matthew 25:35-36 – serving Christ Himself when clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. • James 2:15-16 – faith shown by giving “what is needed for the body.” Meeting the “Naked” Where They Are • Give quality clothing that honors dignity, not leftovers we would discard. • Support or start clothing closets in church or community centers. • Offer weather-appropriate gear (coats, socks, blankets) before seasons change. • Teach basic sewing or mending so garments last longer. • Advocate locally for shelters to provide laundry and shower facilities. Uplifting Those Who “Carry Sheaves” Yet Go Hungry • Pay workers promptly and fairly (Leviticus 19:13; Deuteronomy 24:14-15). • Partner with farms or businesses to send part of each harvest to food banks—echoing the gleaning laws (Leviticus 19:9-10). • Provide nutritious meals on-site for day laborers, migrant workers, or warehouse crews. • Offer transportation, childcare, or language classes that remove barriers to better jobs. • Encourage ethical purchasing: support companies that treat workers justly. Practical Steps Any Believer Can Take • Keep a “generosity line” in the family budget reserved for immediate needs. • Join or form a team that makes home visits, assessing clothing and food shortages firsthand. • Host seasonal drives timed with school openings, harvest seasons, or winter onset. • Network with Christian employers willing to hire and train those stuck in exploitative labor. • Mentor: teach budgeting, resume writing, and interview skills so workers can advance. The Heart Attitude Behind the Help • Compassion – “Put on…compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12) • Generosity – “If anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need but has no compassion on him, how can the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17) • Justice – “Learn to do right; seek justice, correct the oppressor.” (Isaiah 1:17) Living Out Job 24:10 Today When we clothe the naked and feed the weary laborer, we declare with our hands what we believe with our hearts: God sees, God cares, and God acts through His people. |
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