How Does Scripture Instruct Us to Care for the Poor?
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Poverty, homelessness, hunger, dehydration, abandonment, and mental health are just a few of the challenges linked to someone facing unmet needs. To be poor is to be in need. This is a person who is surviving on less than necessary to live. Poverty is not a new issue; it is a sin issue. Poverty has been around since sin entered the world.
We as believers are instructed to care for those in need, but what does that really look like? What does God say about caring for the poor?
Poverty Is a Result of Sin
God’s will is never for someone to be in poverty, but it is a result of sin in the world. In Genesis 1-3, Adam and Eve had everything that they needed in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 2:16-17 we read that Adam was free to eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There was freedom within the boundary set from the Creator. The food and care provided for Adam and Eve was free. They were perfectly provided for by God.
When Adam and Eve sinned, the Lord could have just left them to fend for themselves and figure it out. However, He was so gracious and kind. Instead, He sacrificed an animal and provided clothing as Adam went to work the ground (Genesis 3:21). This verse indicates that the Lord cared for their basic needs on their way out. The animal sacrifice was spiritual care on behalf of their sins and the physical covering of clothing for them.
God exemplifies this care both in the beginning and when He came to earth. In Mark 14:7 Jesus says, “The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me.” The message is consistent because our Lord is unchanging.
Jesus Cared for Physical and Spiritual Needs
It can be overwhelming how much need is around us in our communities when we open our eyes to others. However, we can so easily become hard-hearted because of the previous misuse of our giving or negative experiences. No matter what our history, the Lord has commanded us to care for the poor.
Jesus models this in His ministry on earth. We see a repeated lesson of caring for the poor. He met physical needs, but also spiritual needs. We read of this in moments like Jesus feeding the five thousand (Matthew 14:13-21) or healing the bleeding woman (Luke 8).
Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Webster’s Dictionary defines poor as: “lacking material possessions of, relating to, or characterized by poverty.” Jesus specifically addressed this group of people and spent a lot of his earthly ministry eating with them and getting to know them.
In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He shares in Matthew 5:42, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Jesus teaches that as Christ followers, we are called to go the extra mile, not just do what is required of us. But by His Spirit, show love to others beyond what we are humanly capable of doing. This kind of selfless love is Spirit-led and grounded in the Bible.
Jesus says in Luke 14:13-14, “But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” The challenge comes when we realize that to love those who can give us nothing in return is to live out the purest form of God’s love for us. This kind of sacrificial love is Spirit-filled and having a heart like God’s for people.
Bible Verses about Caring for the Poor
God even put in place laws to care for those in need.
“If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you” (Leviticus 25:35).
“Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need” (Deuteronomy 15:8).
We are commanded to be openhanded. How often are we the exact opposite? We see another homeless person with a sign and wonder if this person is legitimate. We have a student who forgot their lunch again so we have to figure something out (when really they do not have the means to provide food). We hear about another opportunity to give to a local poverty ministry, but we get frustrated because we already gave to another. Our hearts can so quickly turn to hardness with the poor. We make assumptions. We judge. We distance ourselves.
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter — when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7).
Compassion International shares, “The global population living below the international poverty line of $1.90 a day. Currently, an estimated 9.2% of the world’s population live below this poverty line established by the World Bank.” They go on to reveal that this is 689 million people. There are many people in need right now.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done” (Proverbs 19:17).
“Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses” (Proverbs 28:27).
“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16).
The Lord calls us in His Word to look out for the needs of the poor. We are to love them well. We are worshiping God when we care for them. We are loving Jesus when we love people who have needs.
Where Do We Start?
1. Pray
We so often ignore the power of praying for others. Pray for the poor. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you others to be caring for who have needs. He will be faithful to open your eyes to those around you and lead you to ministries. Confess any areas of bitterness. Ask God for a softened heart for any ways that your heart has been hardened to helping others. Pray for Him to give you discernment to be safe and wise, but open-handed and willing to take steps of faith with Him.
2. Be a Learner
There are wonderful groups and organizations who have a lot of experience in caring for the poor. Talk with them, get to know them and see how you can be a support to what they are already doing.
3. Get Creative
Make care packages for those in need. Place them in your car. These could include some basic needs, water bottles, gift cards, cash, a small Bible or devo, etc. Think of something you could even pass to the person out the car window or on the street downtown. If you are married, you may want to make a giving budget each month where you can know a certain amount is for helping those you meet in need. It can free you up from having to ask if you can give, but feeling free in the moment to bless someone.
4. Be a Friend
Make friends with others in different life situations. Do all of your friends live in the same neighborhood or work in the same industry? Try to genuinely get to know and include others of different financial situations. Jesus ate with people of all types of backgrounds. We are called to do the same.
5. Be Spirit Led
Lean on the Holy Spirit as decisions arise to make choices. He is trustworthy.
God sees our hearts. He knows our fears, our judgmental attitudes, our reservations towards the poor, and He still calls us into His kingdom work to minister to them and share eternal life in Him.
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