Contact:

This summer, God has burdened my heart about how I spend all of my resources - time, strength, money, etc. They all should be spent to His glory. Through ministries and Christian literature, God specifically laid on my heart the need to give generously. Especially here in the West, we have been given so much. For what purpose has God given us this bounty?

Recently, I heard two different sermons which mentioned robbing our God. One referred to robbing Him by not giving a tithe. I have heard that said many times in reference to tithe (Malachi 3:8). The second quote was from a message in the Gospel for Asia 2008 Conference. David Carroll said this, "The prayerlessness which exists in our land, and among us as believers, is nothing more than robbery of God." That is something to contemplate as the Scripture commands us to pray. (Prayer is another study, but the idea of robbing God through prayerlessness does pertain to our use of the time that God has given us.)

His Word is clear that we are to give back to Him. (It is all His to begin with anyway.) Financially, we do this through living simply and wisely and supporting our local churches, Christian ministries, and helping the poor. Physically, we do this by using all of our strength to serve God whether that be actively or in Bible Study and prayer. With our time, we do so by redeeming every moment for Him and with Him. Also, through the availability of God's Word so freely in our country, we do so by studying it, memorizing it, and sharing it.

For this study, I'd like to concentrate on the financial aspect of what God has given us. My contemplations led me to study what God's Word said about the poor and needy. It has been said that the importance of a topic in the Bible can be determined by the number of times it is mentioned in the Bible. The poor and needy are mentioned many, many times in the Bible. What a comfort that God cares so much about the very ones the world often despises.

  1. God loves and cares for the poor and needy.
    1. God created us. He is in control of whether we are rich and poor. (1 Samuel 2:7-8;Proverbs 22:2;Zephaniah 3:12)
    2. God judges rich and poor alike - righteously. (Job 34:19;Isaiah 11:4)
    3. God hears, cares about, and takes care of the poor!
      1. God punishes those who do not take care of the poor and judges their cause. (Job 20:2-19; Job 31:16, 22, 19;Psalms 72:4; Psalms 140:12;Proverbs 14:31; Proverbs 17:5; Proverbs 21:13; Proverbs 22:16;Ezekiel 18:10-13;Zechariah 7:10;Isaiah 3:15, 10, 2;Amos 4:1-2; Amos 5:11-12; Amos 8)
      2. God remembers the poor and needy! (Psalms 9:18)
      3. God will deliver the poor. (Job 5:15-16;Psalms 35:10; Psalms 40:17; Psalms 70:572, 12, 13;Jeremiah 20:13)
      4. God hears the poor and takes care of them. (Psalms 12:5; Psalms 69:33; Psalms 41:17; Psalms 86:1)
      5. God is a refuge for the poor and raises them up. (Psalms 14:6; Psalms 69:29-30; Psalms 113:7;Isaiah 25:4)
      6. God gives to the poor - right, goodness, salvation. (Job 36:6-15;Psalms 68:10;Matthew 11:5;Luke 4:18; Luke 7:22; 2 Corinthians 9:9; Jeremiah 39-52 - the poor become the landowners)
      7. God is with the poor and will save Him. (Psalms 109:31)
      8. God makes the poor trust in Him and rejoice. (Isaiah 14:30-32; Isaiah 29:19)
    4. God will look to him that is poor, contrite, and trembleth at His Word. (Isaiah 66:2)
    5. God the son became poor to make us rich in Him! (2 Corinthians 8:9)
    6. God's Word indicates that the poor in spirit are happy. (Matthew 5:3;Luke 6:20)
    7. God does not promise that it will be easy for them. (Proverbs 19:4-7 along with the many Scriptures that show how the poor cry to God in despair. God does help them.)
    8. God promises that their trial is not forever. (Psalms 9:18)
  2. God's mandate to us about the poor and needy.
    1. God commands us to give to the poor.
      1. We are to give food.
        1. Leave corners of the field for the poor and the crops every seventh year. (Exodus 23:11;Leviticus 19:9-10; Leviticus 23:22) I realize that this is based on Old Testament law and practices, but I believe the principle can be applied for us today.
        2. Have a bountiful eye - give of your bread. (Proverbs 22:9)
      2. We are to provide lodging and hospitality. (Leviticus 25:35;Luke 14:13)
      3. We are to give property. (Leviticus 25:25)
      4. We are to have mercy and pity on the poor. (Deuteronomy 24:12-15;Proverbs 14:21; Proverbs 19:17)
      5. We are not to charge the poor usury nor rob them. (Exodus 22:25;Proverbs 22:22)
      6. We are to give, give, give. (Deuteronomy 15:7-11;Psalms 112:5-9;Proverbs 28:27; Proverbs 31:20;Romans 15:26)
      7. We are to give in love. (1 Corinthians 13:3)
    2. God desires that we treat the poor justly, not despising them. (Exodus 23:3-6;Leviticus 19:15;Psalms 82:3-4;Proverbs 29:14;James 2:1-5)
      1. Those who consider the poor are blessed. God will help them in time of trouble. (Psalms 41:1-3)
      2. The righteous consider the poor; the wicked despise him. (Job 24; 29; 30:25; Psalm 10; 109:16;Proverbs 28:15; Proverbs 29:7)
      3. The fast (sacrifice) that God has chosen is to help the poor and needy. (Isaiah 58:6-12)
      4. The absence of strengthening the poor is a sign of iniquity. (Ezekiel 16:49)
      5. Those who repent will show mercy to the poor. (Daniel 4:27;Matthew 19:21;Mark 10:21;Luke 18:22) We must lay up treasure in Heaven.
      6. Those who make themselves poor will become rich. (Proverbs 13:7)
    3. God wants us to plead the cause of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:9;Jeremiah 22:16)
  3. God does give guidelines for how the poor should live.
    1. We must live within the means of what God has provided. (Proverbs 21:17; Proverbs 22:7)
    2. We must give to God and sacrifice for Him. (Exodus 30:15;Leviticus 14:21;Mark 12:42-44;Luke 21:2-4)
    3. We must live righteously. (Proverbs 17:5; Proverbs 19:1-22; Proverbs 28:6)
    4. We must praise Him! (Psalms 74:21)
    5. We may search out His promises and not be wise in our own conceit. (Proverbs 28:11)
    6. We must work. (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
  4. My response to God's instruction.
    1. I should care about the poor and needy deeply.
    2. I should show mercy to the poor.
    3. I should live simply in order to be able to help the poor. (In Irresistible Revolution, the point is made by a story of people all fasting until there is enough food for everyone to be able to eat.)
    4. I should love the poor, not look down on them as I help them.
    5. I should remember when I am poor and needy that God does see and will help!

Many of these things are simple truths that I have known all my life but have never considered all at one time. When I did, I was amazed both by God's help and care for the poor and by my responsibility. May I live each day in light of these truths!