The goal of my blog is to help you recognize unhealthy beliefs or non-biblical thinking that keeps you from receiving God’s blessing in your life. The last two posts challenged me to evaluate how I think about the poor in my community. One struggling single mother in my church always seemed down on her luck. A woman in my church didn’t feel she deserved her help and didn’t feel compassion for her. I pondered that comment and told her that God would want us to help her.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” Mercy is giving something to someone who may not deserve it, or we don’t think deserve it. We do not deserve the kingdom of heaven, yet Jesus said in Matthew 5:3, “Blessed are the poor in spirit [humble], for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” People interpret this verse in many ways, but God wants everyone to humbly see their need for Him and seek His help and salvation. It is not for us to judge why someone is poor and how they could make better decisions.
I was one of those poor when I was a child because of poor decisions my father made, and when I became a single mother because of my husband’s decision to divorce. It was very humbling to receive help from others, yet I was thankful. I had to wear hand-me-down clothes that were not the latest style, yet I was clothed, and it was okay. My children wore hand-me-down clothes and what I could find at yard sales. The church helped me with grocery gift cards, so thankful. As a single mother, I claimed Philippians 4:19 and trusted God to provide all that I was in need of, and He provided all the finances I needed each month. He did a miracle and provided a mortgage for me to buy a fixer-upper home for me and my children when the only job I had was a small seamstress business. When my kids started elementary school, I became a substitute teacher to help make ends meet. God is good.
In the last post, we learned in Isaiah 58:6-7 that true fasting was having a heart of compassion for the oppressed. Verse 6 says, “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Fasting is seeking freedom from the control of sinful actions and thoughts in our lives.) 7”Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” Many of us have no problem giving food to the hungry or clothing to those in need, but many of us resist the command to “bring the homeless poor into your house.”
Some people say well, the culture was different in 800 BC when Isaiah wrote those words. It may have been safe to bring the homeless into their home, besides, they became servants. You may think, the homeless can receive a housing allowance to help with renting a place to stay. It is true that the homeless poor in 800 BC most likely was NOT violent, addicted to drugs, alcohol, or mentally ill. God knew there would be a homeless problem because some people lack the spiritual, mental, and financial means to care for themselves. The Bible also says we are to be wise and obey God, so pray and ask Him to help you know His will and wisely do His will concerning the homeless. It may not be wise to bring a homeless person into your home. We all have heard horror stories. One man I know is in jail because he had compassion and brought a homeless man into his home, who then molested his daughters and one of them got pregnant. So sad, but a reality.
I find it hard to help those I think could help themselves, who seek others to care for them. God does not differentiate who deserves His help and who does not. We are all poor compared to God, and we all need His help and blessing. As His image bearers, we are to do the same to other poor souls regardless of why they are poor or even if they choose to be poor for whatever reason. We know the government does not lift anyone out of poverty but keeps them in bondage. Only God can lift us out of poverty and provide all we need according to His riches (Phil 4:19).
How should we treat the poor immigrants flooding our country? They are looking for a better life, so how can we help them? And they are ripe to hear and receive the Gospel of Jesus. This is not the time to shun the incoming immigrants. Ask yourself, “What if I was an immigrant or poor, how would I want people to help me?”
James 2:13 states, “For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” God wants us to show compassion and mercy. This post is my reflection on God’s view of the poor and how we should think. Take your time as you read each passage to understand the heart of God towards the poor.
For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’ –Deuteronomy 15:11
Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, ‘The seventh year, the year of release is near,’ and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. –Deuteronomy 15:9
“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the LORD your God.” –Leviticus 23:22
Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. –Proverbs 14:21
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. —Proverbs 14:31
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed. –Proverbs 19:17
Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself call out and not be answered. -–-Proverbs 21:13
Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. –Proverbs 22:9
Conclusion
We are to love our neighbor as ourselves. The poor are our neighbors. James 2:8-9 exhorts us, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.” Also, James 4:17 states, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.”
You may say, “But the Word of God also says in” 2Thesalonians 3:10-12, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. 11For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.” These verses are in the middle of a discourse about people who are idle (2Thes. 3:6-15). Paul set an example for believers concerning the importance of work. Yet, we can still show mercy and encourage such a person to work and even help them find work. Pray and ask God to give you His wisdom and compassion for the poor, only Jesus can lift them up, share Jesus as you show them compassion.
I would love to hear how you help the poor in your area.
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