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Bowen's Daily Meditations
Devotional: December 14th

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"Blessed is he that considereth the poor." - Psalms 41:1.

In other words, blessed is he that blesseth. Happy is he who makes it his chief concern to bestow happiness on others. Rich is he who seeks to enrich. " Consider thyself," says the world; "study the advancement of thy interests; for there is none to do thee good if thou neglect thy own good. Will men sell and buy for thee whilst thou art busied about the poor? Will they supply thy wardrobe if thou empty it for the poor?

Will they send medicines to thee and a physician, when thou forgettest thy health in solacing the miseries of others? Consider the poor, of course; but take good care that consideration for them do not swallow up or even encroach upon a due consideration of thyself, thy children, thy near of kin,"

In opposition to all this, our text, like many others in the word of God, teaches us - if we suffer ourselves to be taught so strange a truth, so hard a lesson, - that he best considers himself who considers the poor rather than himself, and makes it his chief business in the world to communicate good unto his fellow-men. For the poor have a friend; even God the source of all good; and there is no more direct way to the heart of God than to alleviate the sufferings of our fellow-men, to deny ourselves for the good of others.

Consider the poor; give attention to them; study their necessities; wisely consult as to the best mode of alleviating them. Think not that attention is wasted when given to the poor, even if some important commercial speculation has to wait. What the word of God says in general, the providence of God says in particular, "Consider the poor," says the former; " consider this poor man," says the latter. Indiscriminate charity is not the thing here commended. The vocation of a Christian is to be a benefactor; and this being his vocation he is not to grudge any pains that may be required in order to ascertain who are the really needy, and what the most effectual way of relieving them.

There are some necessities which men do not mention because they do not feel. They know not their spiritual destitution and they know not the bread of life which is profitable for this world and for that which is to come. The Christian is to consider the soul-penury of men, and tell them of the banquet of life which Christ has spread for them. In this view even the richest of our fellow-men are poor enough and need that we should consider them. Blessed is he that takes knowledge of the necessities of his fellow-men, and devotes himself to their alleviation. God will take knowledge of his necessities, and will see to it that he want no good thing.

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