Daily Devotional – Friday, September 11, 2026
You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand.
Deuteronomy 15:10 (NKJV)
Moses was giving the Israelites instructions for their new life in the land God was about to give them. He knew that some families would struggle and that poor people would be among them. When that happened, God expected His people to help rather than ignore the needy. He told them to open their hands and give what they could. This command came alongside a law requiring certain debts to be written off every seventh year. God wanted their compassion to remain stronger than the fear of losing what they had given.
When Giving Feels Difficult
Moses knew that the coming year of forgiving debts could make people reluctant to help. Someone might think twice about lending to a poor neighbour because the debt might soon be released and the money would never be returned. God told His people not to hold back for that reason. When a fellow Israelite was in genuine need, they were to help according to that need.
Then Moses went further. He said, “You shall surely give to him,” and warned the giver not to feel unhappy about giving. God cared about both the help someone received and the heart of the person giving it. The command was strong because genuine need called for a real response. The promise of blessing showed that God would honour their obedience to His command to give. His people could help someone who was struggling while trusting Him with their own needs.
When Helping Someone Costs You Something
These same principles apply to us. A child can share lunch with a classmate who has none. A family can share food with a neighbour who is struggling. An adult can help someone with a bill, a task, or something else they genuinely need. Sometimes, giving costs us something we wanted for ourselves. That can make us hesitate, but what we have can help someone else if we share.
Look around you and notice the people God has placed in your life. Someone may need help that you can provide. It may be something small, such as sharing your food or giving your time. You may have more than enough of something another person needs. You cannot help everyone, but you can respond when a genuine opportunity comes your way. When you give, remember that God sees the gift and the heart behind it.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, help me notice when someone needs my help. When I have something, I can share; help me give freely; and remember that You have given me something I can use to bless someone else.
