Sermon Central
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How God See's The Poor
Contributed by Ron Hicks on Sep 7, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: God’s attitude toward the poor, I believe, will cause you and I to look on them as we never have before.
HOW GOD LOOKS AT THE POOR
1 Sam 2:7-8
7 The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD’s, and he hath set the world upon them.
Ps 12:4-5
4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?
5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.
Ps 72:12-13
12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy.
Prov 14:21
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Prov 19:17
17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
Ex 22:25
25 If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as an usurer, neither shalt thou lay upon him usury.
Prov 21:13
13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
Prov 22:9
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Prov 22:16
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Prov 22:22-23
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Prov 28:27
27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Circumstantial or self made poverty.
Many promises in the Bible have conditions that must be met, which bring blessings, but the mind that thinks “well, the blessings are good but I’m doing OK without meeting all these conditions," is deceiving itself. Things are going to get bad. Proof?
Mal 3:8-11
8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.
9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.
10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
Prov 10:4
4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
Prov 13:8
8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
Prov 13:23
23 A poor man’s field may produce abundant food,
but injustice sweeps it away. NIV
Prov 14:31
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. NIV
Prov 17:5
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
11 For ye have the poor always with you;
There will always be a ministry to the poor.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
A promise with a condition.
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
