Destitute:
1: lacking something needed or desirable 2: lacking possessions and resources; especially: suffering extreme poverty (Merrium Webster Online Dictionary)
Lemuel's mother made it clear to him that his voice had power. And his position in life came with the authority to use that power to help those without it. Because even the destitute have rights.
We have the privilege to be a voice for the voiceless. Because anything we have done for the least of these, we did for Christ (Matthew 25:31-46). There are many today in our own country and abroad who need their rights to form words: the unborn, the foster child, the orphan, the homeless, the child soldier, the grandma caring for her AIDS orphaned grandchildren, the trafficked, the dying and lonely, the abused, the child or adult with special needs, the poor--the destitute.
What Lemuel's mother was teaching him was compassion with responsibility. While his words would hold weight in the court of the King where their pleas for justice would be daily before him, I don't think for a moment he saved his voice for a kingdom court one day. He was probably using his voice on the playground to speak up for someone being bullied. Maybe he took on a fundraiser to help the poor in his community or in a distant land. Small voices can have big impact.
We should not only take notice of those who need our help, but put love into action and actually help them with our God-given authority to do so. That may be as "simple" as praying for the destitute; praying is no small task. God may lead you further to give or go, to work on their behalf. Be open and be obedient.
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