“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.”

Indifference is never specifically listed as a sin in the Bible. However, ignoring the needs of others and showing a lack of love for both God and our neighbor certainly fits that definition. In this verse, Solomon warns against the sin of indifference to the needs of others. The heart of Christ should be reflected in our lives through great compassion for those who are hurting or in need. He modeled that for us. The indicting part of this verse appears to be the intentional ignoring—the deliberate closing of our ears to the cries of those in need. While we may not find ourselves financially needy today, this verse warns that those who close their ears to others may one day find themselves in need and discover that those they hope will listen have also closed their ears. There are numerous examples of people crying out for help, and I often see that those whose lives were marked by compassion have many people willing to step in and help in their time of need. I have also seen examples of those who find themselves in a place of need with no one ready to respond because they lived their lives ignoring the cries of those around them. Today, hear and respond as modeled by Jesus. #BeTheEdge

“And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” — Hebrews 13:16 NIV