God's Concern for the Poor and Needy

Sodom (and Judah) are condemned in Ezek 16.49 for several things: They were filled with pride; they were full of bread; they had an abundance of idleness (free time?); and they did not strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. It's quite clear that with resources (full of bread) and time (abundance of idleness) Judah (and Sodom) COULD have shown mercy to the poor and needy. They did not. They are condemned for this.

Our culture sounds a lot like that of Sodom and Judah (our churches sound a lot like Sodom and Judah). We as Christians must battle the materialism of the culture and grasp (in philosophy and action) God's heart for the poor and needy. The church has done this throughout history (or ought to have done so). We need to make sure that we do not neglect it.