What actions can we take to avoid the pitfalls described in Job 20:19? Text for Study “ ‘For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor; he has seized houses he did not build.’ ” (Job 20:19) The Pitfalls in View • Oppressing the poor • Abandoning those in need • Grabbing what is not rightfully ours God records these sins so we can steer clear of them. Below are practical, Scripture-rooted actions that keep our hearts and hands clean. Honor God’s Ownership of Everything • Psalm 24:1 reminds us, “The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof.” • Seeing ourselves as stewards, not owners, curbs any urge to seize what belongs to another. • Daily thank Him for what He’s entrusted to you, big or small. Value People Over Possessions • Proverbs 14:31: “He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.” • Measure success by faithfulness and love, not by accumulation. • Choose relationships over profit in every decision. Pursue Honest Work and Fair Dealing • Ephesians 4:28: “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must labor, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.” • Pay fair wages on time. • Refuse shady shortcuts, hidden fees, or exploitative contracts. Practice Generous Giving and Hospitality • Luke 14:13-14 encourages inviting “the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind.” • Set a giving line in your budget before setting a spending line. • Open your home and table; share meals, not just money. Advocate for the Vulnerable • Proverbs 22:22-23: “Do not rob the poor because they are poor… for the LORD will take up their case.” • Speak up when you see exploitation. • Support ministries and policies that protect widows, orphans, refugees, and low-income families. Guard the Heart Against Greed • Habakkuk 2:9 warns against “unjust gain.” • Fast from unnecessary purchases to keep desire in check. • Regularly audit motives: “Am I doing this to serve or to hoard?” Seek Accountability in Community • Invite trusted believers to review major financial decisions. • Small groups or church elders can lovingly confront drift toward materialism. • Celebrate one another’s acts of generosity; model what you want multiplied. Live with Eternity in View • 1 Timothy 6:17-19 calls us to “lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.” • James 5:4, reminds that unpaid wages “cry out against you.” Eternal judgment is real, but so is eternal reward. • Ask often: “Will this matter 10,000 years from now?” When we honor God’s ownership, love people sacrificially, and conduct every transaction with integrity, we sidestep the traps in Job 20:19 and shine His character into a world desperate for justice and mercy. |
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