GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE POOR
"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so" (Proverbs 3:27)
It is our duty to help those in need and to share what we have with the poor and needy (Hebrews 13:16); this favor is pleasing to Almighty God when we help the poor because He has commanded that their poverty be supplied by the plenty and abundance that He has given to others.
The poor have a right to what we are able to give and can conveniently spare; sometimes their right may lie beyond the line of our convenience. It is sinful to delay them till tomorrow, and it is wickedness to deny them for ever. "Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." (Matthew 5:42)
"The Lord makes poor and rich; he lowers and raises" (1 Samuel 2:7); and "He is the maker of the poor and the rich" (Proverbs 22:2). They are the works of His hands and He put them in that capacity according to His providence. The poor man should not envy the rich man, nor should the rich man despise the poor or withdraw the bowels of his compassion from them.
You may lay claim to your possessions, saying that they belong to you. Why must the poor have a portion of them? It is true that you worked hard to get your possessions and wealth. No man can challenge or claim it from you, but God can claim it from you. You are stewards of your possessions in reference to God. Rich men are stewards to the Lord in reference to all that they have. Therefore, as they receive from Him and partake of the fullness of the earth which is His ("The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness"-Psalm 24:1), they must issue it according to His order and command. He has left a standing order for all time that the rich should distribute the necessities to the poor and hungry. They will give account of their stewardship on judgment day, of the quantity and quality of what they give to the poor out of what they receive from the giver of wealth and provider of all things (Jehovah Jireh). Let them take heed how they withhold bread from the hungry (Job 22:7).
Don't keep it all to yourself, but give a portion to those that are in need. The rich man withholds what is due to the poor when he withholds relief (food, money, clothes, and shelter) from them. If they withhold everything from them, they will be condemned not only as uncharitable and uncultured, but also as oppressors and unjust; not only for not providing relief, but also for not doing them right.
"Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered" (Proverbs 21:13).
The rich are not only obligated to give, but they should give cheerfully and readily, not under duress (2 Corinthians 9:7), that they should give liberally and bountifully, not with restraint, and that they should give sincerely, not expecting to merit God's favor or men's praise. "Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do. There will always be some in the land who are poor. That is why I am commanding you to share freely with the poor and with other Israelites in need " (Deuteronomy 15:10-11)
TAKE UP THE CAUSE OF THE POOR
"Defend the poor and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked" (Psalm 82:3-4)
God is not nave. He knows that there's a tendency for the strong to exploit the weak. He demands that his people rule in a way that protects the vulnerable. Do not make any distinctions between the rich and the poor (James 2:2–4). Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here's a good seat for you, but say to the poor man, 'You stand there' or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,' have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"
What gives a person value? We really shouldn't need any other criteria beyond the fact that they were created in God's image and are worth going to the cross to redeem. Unfortunately, we get caught up in the things the world values. In the kingdom of God, a person of means shouldn't be more worthy of respect or regard than someone who is poor. When we discriminate based on worldly values like wealth, we demonstrate evil thoughts.
RESPOND TO OTHERS' NEEDS
"If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? "Dear children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:17–18)
Jesus told us that "life does not consist of an abundance of possessions" (Luke 12:15); we should never be so caught up in our belongings that we're not willing to share them with those in need.
God could distribute the wealth of the world evenly, but he doesn't do that. He gives us all the opportunity to give and receive love. "Do not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother" (Deuteronomy 15:7); that means He blesses some people so that they can experience the joy of generosity, but if we become greedy and covetous, then the blessings we’ve received become a curse. It is a promise from Almighty God that "whoever gives to the poor will not want it, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses" (Proverbs 28:27).
THE GOODS WE WITHHOLD FROM THOSE IN NEED WILL DEFINITELY TESTIFY AGAINST US.
Relieving the poor preserves them from perishing. Even if you give them good words, what does it profit the poor? Can they feed on good words? Or will your good words clothe them? Rather, give them food, clothes, money, and medical supplies (if necessary). "It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). Love God by loving others.
God intimately invests in those that society tends to forget. When we recognize and respond to those on the periphery of society—the poor, the stranger, the foreigner, the imprisoned—we contribute to the establishment of God's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
If we fail to help the poor, they will cry out to the Lord, who will save them out of all their troubles (Psalm 34:6). He will raise help from His creatures (dogs, cool breeze, rainfall, trees for shelter) and send help to them from other men, who will receive the blessing, while those who fail to help the poor will face judgment.
God doesn't turn a blind eye towards the poor. He sees them and knows them by name. (Proverbs 28:27). If he provides for the lowly birds of the fields, he certainly cares for those created in his image (Matthew 6:26).
"When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them" (Isaiah 41:17).
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
How I wish we could go back to the acts of the Apostles, who had everything in common, and there was no poor person among them.
"Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power, the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses, they sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. " (Acts 4:32–35.)
Give food, clothes, shelter, medicine to the poor and needy in your community, neighborhood, and poor countries. You can also help the poor through charity organizations, government agencies, and religious centers. A cup of water can quench the thirst of the poor, but a pack of food will turn their hearts to praise the Almighty God. All glory be to the creator of the rich and the poor.
"The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor" (Proverbs 22:9).
"Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed" (Proverbs 19:17).
James Dina (james@mountzionblog.org)
16th November 2020
https://mountzionblog.org/give-generously-to-the-poor/
References
1. "An Exposition with Practical Observations upon the Book of Job" by Joseph Caryl.
2. "20 Bible Verses About the Poor" by Jesus Film Project (CRU).
