In this world, there are both the rich and the poor, haves and have-nots. Frequently those who have material wealth take advantage of those who have little, often gaining more at the expense of the exploited poor. Biblically, believers should treat the poor and needy in a godly manner.
God’s concern for the poor and needy reveals that His law provides several ways to eliminate poverty among them. The Lord God is the champion of the poor and needy. He reveals Himself as their refuge, help, deliverer, and provider. Despite how things may seem to be around us, God states His overall goal for the poor, the needy, and believers. Deuteronomy, chapter fifteen, verse four, Lord God declares, “there shall be no poor among you; for the Lord shall greatly bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it.”
In the New Testament, the believer’s responsibility is to show a deep concern for the poor and needy, especially those in the Christian church. Much of Jesus’ ministry was to the poor and disadvantaged that no one seemed to care about: the oppressed and downtrodden, the Samaritans, those with leprosy, and the widows. The Son of God had harsh words of judgment for those who clung tightly to worldly possessions and ignored the poor. In the Gospel of Luke, chapter twelve, verses sixteen to twenty-one, defines what believers and others that have extra to spare should do with it instead of increasing self status. Therefore, if we have extra, why not help the poor and needy?
Jesus assumed and expected that His people would give generously to the less unfortunate. However, He does not expect us to help the poor with an entourage of people standing around, in spotlights as those we are cutting the ribbon to our safety box. In Matthew, chapter six, verses one to four, tells how our approach to contribution should be: humble. Jesus Himself practiced what He preached, keeping a money bag for which He and His disciples would give to the poor. In the Gospel of John, chapter twelve, verses five and six, Jesus states about the poor and not deprive ourselves. On more than one occasion, the Son of God instructed those who want to be His followers are to care about the poor and help them by giving. Matthew, chapter nineteen, verse twenty-one, points out how to give to the unfortunate. Such giving was not regarded as optional by Jesus; in fact, one of His requirements for the entrance into His eternal kingdom is whether we have been kind to our brothers and sisters who are hungry, thirsty, and naked.
Please read Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-one to forty-six. The scripture of this segment state the approach God will take when evaluating our life here on earth.