GOD'S HEART FOR THE POOR
Comfort Rwanda is firmly rooted in the conviction that the heart of God is turned towards the poor. If we want to show His nature and purposes in the world we must therefore include an active demonstration of such compassion and care.
“… who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoner free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous; the Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow” (Psalm 146:7-9)
Comfort Rwanda is firmly rooted in the conviction that the heart of God is turned towards the poor. If we want to show His nature and purposes in the world we must therefore include an active demonstration of such compassion and care.
“… who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoner free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord raises up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous; the Lord protects the strangers; He supports the fatherless and the widow” (Psalm 146:7-9)
Click to enlarge photograph
God has always had an open heart and hand
towards the poor. His love compels Him to
care for them and His justice is His way of
ensuring fairness. It is so important to God
that he has made justice the foundation of
the throne He sits on and the Son of David
would combine this justice with deep
compassion for the poor and needy in His
Kingdom. Because of this God loves equity in
the world - where none have too much and none
too little and where those who have enough
give to those who do not so that there is
equality.1
The justice of God is not a cold legal justice but true justice pours out kindness and compassion on the needy such as the poor, the orphan and the widow. God’s love has always been a self-emptying love for the helpless and this self-emptying, giving love which cares for the poor reveals the love of God at work in us.2
The justice of God is not a cold legal justice but true justice pours out kindness and compassion on the needy such as the poor, the orphan and the widow. God’s love has always been a self-emptying love for the helpless and this self-emptying, giving love which cares for the poor reveals the love of God at work in us.2
Click to enlarge photos - for more images from Comfort Village, Nyamata go here >>>
Because of His love and passion for justice
God calls His people to actively work for the
poor and rescue them from their poverty. His
prophets lived and breathed prophetic passion
for the poor. Jesus the Messiah was therefore
anointed to bring forth justice, and laid
good news for the poor at the core of His
preaching. He saw this justice combined with
mercy as being central to the fulfilment of
God’s will and rejoiced when the
repentance of Zaccheus brought immediate good
news to the poor. He confirmed this when He
taught that looking after the poor and needy
in practical ways was what separated the
sheep from the goats in God’s Kingdom .
This last Scripture reiterates the truth that
God loves to identify with the
poor.3
Because of His heart for the poor, God promised to pour out His Spirit to achieve justice. So, when the Spirit came on the church at Pentecost, it was not long before God’s heart for the sharing of resources and the help of the poor was shown through His Spirit-filled people. This concern for the poor remained central to the church throughout New Testament times It is our desire that Comfort Rwanda demonstrates the wonder of His love for the poor, the glory of His Kingdom of justice and the depth of His compassion for the poor, the widow and the orphan.4
1 Deuteronomy 15:9-11; Psalm 72:13, 89:14, 99:4; Isaiah 16:5; 2Corinthians 8:13-14 and 1Timothy 6:17-19.
2 Zechariah 7:9; 1John 3:16-18
3 Proverbs 14:31; Psalm 82:3; Isaiah 1:17, 10:1-2, 42:1-4; Jeremiah 5:28, 9:24; Ezekiel 18:7-9; Daniel 4:27; Hosea 12:6; Amos 4:1, 5:11-12; Micah 6:8; Habakkuk 1:4; Zephaniah 3:5; Zechariah 7:9; Malachi 3:5; Matthew 23:23, 25:31-46; Luke 4:18, 19:8-9
4 Isaiah 32:15-16; Acts 2:44-45, 4:34, 6:1-5; 1Corinthians 16:1-3; 2Corinthians 8:1-9:15; Galatians 2:10
Because of His heart for the poor, God promised to pour out His Spirit to achieve justice. So, when the Spirit came on the church at Pentecost, it was not long before God’s heart for the sharing of resources and the help of the poor was shown through His Spirit-filled people. This concern for the poor remained central to the church throughout New Testament times It is our desire that Comfort Rwanda demonstrates the wonder of His love for the poor, the glory of His Kingdom of justice and the depth of His compassion for the poor, the widow and the orphan.4
1 Deuteronomy 15:9-11; Psalm 72:13, 89:14, 99:4; Isaiah 16:5; 2Corinthians 8:13-14 and 1Timothy 6:17-19.
2 Zechariah 7:9; 1John 3:16-18
3 Proverbs 14:31; Psalm 82:3; Isaiah 1:17, 10:1-2, 42:1-4; Jeremiah 5:28, 9:24; Ezekiel 18:7-9; Daniel 4:27; Hosea 12:6; Amos 4:1, 5:11-12; Micah 6:8; Habakkuk 1:4; Zephaniah 3:5; Zechariah 7:9; Malachi 3:5; Matthew 23:23, 25:31-46; Luke 4:18, 19:8-9
4 Isaiah 32:15-16; Acts 2:44-45, 4:34, 6:1-5; 1Corinthians 16:1-3; 2Corinthians 8:1-9:15; Galatians 2:10
