Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;
he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 17:5
It isn’t cool from heaven’s perspective to make fun of hurting people. It is a kind of arrogant bullying and it ultimately directs its insults at God. God’s Word says that such mockery will be punished by God. Why? Because God is Creator. God is in control. God is caring for the needs of the impoverished, the hurting, and the suffering, even when many in society might turn away. He is looking to use people like us to help them. To ridicule people made in God’s image is to insult the God of heaven. It will not be tolerated by God!
It follows then that God wants us to care as He does. He sees when we are concerned and reach out to help. Generosity with physical needs and sympathy with the suffering are the call to action here. If God punishes mockery and ridicule, it would follow that He will reward engagement, love, generosity, and advocacy for the neediest among us. We will care like God cares for His creation. We will incarnate the gospel by sharing Jesus as we help meet real needs. We will preach the redemptive love of Christ while simultaneously caring like Christ. We will thus honor our Creator. And God is pleased when we reflect His mercy and grace in our care.
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