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The Ministry of Health and Healing
I command you, saying, “You shall open your hand wide to your
brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land.”’”
Deuteronomy
15:11
.
“‘If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any
of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you,
you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor
brother, but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend
him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.’”
Verses 7, 8
.
“‘If one of your brethren becomes poor, and falls into poverty
among you, then you shall help him, like a stranger or a sojourner,
[99]
that he may live with you.’”
Leviticus 25:35
.
““‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly
reap the corners of your field.”’” “‘When you reap your harvest in
your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to
get it. ... When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the
boughs again. ... When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you
shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless,
and the widow.’”
Leviticus 19:9
;
Deuteronomy 24:19-21
.
None needed to fear that their liberality would make them poor.
Obedience to God’s commandments would surely result in prosper-
ity. “‘For this thing,’” God said, “‘the Lord your God will bless you
in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.’” “‘You
shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign
over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.’”
Deuteronomy
15:10, 6
.
Business Principles
God’s Word does not approve of any policy that will enrich one
class by the oppression and suffering of another. It teaches us to
put ourselves in the place of those with whom we are dealing in all
our business transactions. We are to look out not only for our own
interests but for those of others. Anyone who would take advantage
of another’s misfortunes in order to benefit self, or who seeks to
profit through another’s weakness or incompetence, is a transgressor
both of the principles and of the precepts of the Word of God.
“‘You shall not pervert justice due the stranger or the fatherless,
nor take a widow’s garment as a pledge.’” “‘When you lend your