GIVING TO THE POOR

Is Fundamental
to Spiritual Growth
His promise was: if you seek, as your FIRST priority, the Kingdom of Heaven and
His Righteousness, all your other needs will be met. We can testify to the truth of
his promise, that while seeking the Lord as our first priority in life, He has met all
our material needs far in excess of our hopes. It is more blessed to give than
receive. You must practice generous giving. But give in secret, receiving no
recognition from man. Only your Father in heaven will know, and your treasure
will become eternal. And remember, it is the love of money that is the root of
all evil, not money. Rich or poor can love money. Rich or poor can have little
regard for money. Remember, it is written, give to the poor, and I will repay
you. And, God loves a cheerful giver. Ease of giving comes with practice.
Start slow and build as you feel the joy of giving.

From Deuteronomy
I command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your
poor, and to your needy, in your land. Deu 15:11

You shall not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he is of
your brothers, or of your strangers that are in your land within your gates. Deu
24:14

From Job (the perfect man, allowed by God to be severely tested by Satan).
Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him who had none
to help him. The blessing of him who was ready to perish came upon me, and I
caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. Job 29:12-13

I was a father to the poor; and the cause which I did not know, I searched out.
And I broke the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. Job
29:15-17

Was not my soul grieved for the poor? Job 30:25

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in
the womb?
If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the
widow to fail;
Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless has not eaten thereof;
(For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have
guided her from my mother's womb);
If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering;
If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my
sheep;
If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate;
Then let my arm fall from my shoulder blade, and my arm be broken from the
bone. Job 31:15-22

From Proverbs:
He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is
he. Pro 14:21

He that oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who has mercy on the
poor honors God. Pro 14:31

Whoever mocks the poor shames his Maker, and he who is glad at calamities
shall not go unpunished. Pro 17:5

He that has pity upon the poor lends to the LORD; and what he has given, the
Lord will restore again. Pro 19:17

Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, shall cry himself, but shall not be
heard [in Hell]. Pro 21:13

A gift in secret pacifies [God's] anger, but he who fails to give stirs up wrath [of
God]. Pro 21:14

He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed for he gives of his bread to the poor.
Pro 22:9

He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich,
shall surely come to want. Pro 22:16

Do not rob the poor because he is poor; neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;
Pro 22:22
A poor man who oppresses the poor, is like a sweeping rain that left no food. Pro
28:3

He who by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, gathers it for him who
will pity the poor. Pro 28:8

He who gives to the poor shall not lack, but he that hides his eyes [from those in
need] shall have many a curse. Pro 28:27

The righteous considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked regards not to know
it. Pro 29:7

The king who faithfully judges the poor shall have his throne established forever.
Pro 29:14

There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to
devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. Pro 30:14

Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Pro 31:9

Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband does safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of
spoil.
She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands.
She is like the merchants' ships; she brings her food from afar.
She rises also while it is yet night, and gives food to her household, and a portion
to her maidens.
She considers a field, and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a
vineyard.
She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.
She perceives that her merchandise is good; her candle does not go out by night.
She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
She stretches out her hand to the poor; yes, she reaches forth her hands to the
needy. Pro 31:10-20

From Psalms
The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; let them be taken in the schemes
that they have imagined. Psa 10:2
"Now I will arise, says the LORD, because of the oppression of the poor, because
of the sighing of the needy; I will set him in the safety for which he yearns." Psa
12:5

You evildoers have shamed the counsel regarding the poor, but the LORD is his
refuge. Psa 14:6

The wicked have drawn out the sword and bent their bow to cast down the poor
and needy, and to slay those who are of upright conduct.
But their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Psa 37:14-15

Blessed is he who considers the poor; the LORD will deliver him in time of
trouble. Psa 41:1

Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy; rid them out of the hand of the wicked. Psa 82:3-4

Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of
them from the earth.
Because that he remembered not to show mercy, but persecuted the poor and
needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart. Psa 109:15-16

A good man shows favour, and lends; he will guide his affairs with discretion.
Surely he shall not be moved forever; the righteous shall be in everlasting
remembrance.
He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his
enemies.
He has dispersed, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever; his
horn shall be exalted with honor. Psa 112:5-9

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the
poor. Psa 140:12

Ecclesiastes
If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and
justice in a province, marvel not at the matter for He that is higher than the
highest regards; and there is higher than they. Ecc 5:8
Isaiah
The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders of his people, and their
princes. For you have consumed the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your
houses.
What do you mean by beating my people into pieces, and grinding the faces of the
poor?" Said the Lord GOD of hosts. Isa 3:14-15

Woe to those officials who write unrighteous decrees and then enforce those
unjust laws;
To turn aside the poor from judgment, and to take away the rights of my poor
people, making widows their prey, and robbing the fatherless! Isa 10:1-2

The methods of the miser are evil; he devises wicked plans to destroy the poor
with lying words, even when what the needy speaks is just. Isa 32:17

Is not this the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo
the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with hungry, and bring to your house the poor who
are cast out? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not
yourself from your own flesh?
Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring
forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD
shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say,
'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger,
and speaking wickedness,
And if you extend your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your
light shall rise in darkness, and your darkness will be like the noon day.
And the LORD shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and
strengthen your bones; and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring
of water, whose waters do not fail. Isa 58:6-11

He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so it was well with him. Was
this not due to his knowing me?" said the LORD. Isa 22:16

Ezekiel
Behold, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, overabundance of food,
and much idleness were hers and her daughters; neither did she strengthen the
hand of the poor and needy. Eze 16:49
Has oppressed the poor and needy, has robbed by violence, has not restored the
pledge, has lifted up his eyes to the idols and has committed abomination, Eze
18:12

Who has withdrawn his hand from [oppressing] the poor, who has not received
usury nor increase, but has executed my judgments and has walked in my
statutes; he shall not die for the iniquity of his father, he shall surely live. Eze 8:17

Daniel
(Daniel speaking to King Nebuchadnezzar, of Babylon, after Daniel had
prophesied that he would lose his kingdom because of his pride and be driven
into the field to eat grass like a beast for seven years, which later occurred that
day):
Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by
righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor so it may be a
lengthening of your tranquility. Dan 4:27

Amos
Thus says the LORD: "For three transgressions of Israel and for four, I will not
turn away their punishment because they sold the righteous for silver and the
poor for a pair of shoes. Amos 2:6

They trample on the head of the poor as on the dust of the earth and turn aside
the way of the meek; and a man and his father will have relations with the same
woman, and so they profane my holy name. Amos 2:8

"Hear this word, you cows [women] of Bashan who are on the mountain of
Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to their husbands,
'Bring, and let us drink.' Amos 4:1

For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins. You afflict the
just, you take a bribe, and turn aside the poor in the gate[court] from their right.
Amos 5:12

Hear this, O you who trample down the needy, to make the poor of the land fail,
Amos 8:4

Zechariah
Thus says the LORD of hosts: Execute true justice and every man show mercy
and compassion to his brother.
And do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor; and let
none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. Zech 7:9-10

Matthew
Take heed that you do not give to the poor in the presence of men, to be seen by
them; otherwise you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
Therefore when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the
hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have
admiration from men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
But when you give, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
That your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret, will himself
reward you openly. Mat 6:1-4

Don't accumulate treasure on earth which is not lasting, rather lay up everlasting
treasure in heaven. For where your treasure is, there is your heart. Mat 6:19-21

Jesus said to him, "If you will be perfect, go and sell all that you have and give to
the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me." Mat
19:21

Mark
Then Jesus looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: go
your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure
in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow me." Mark 10:21

Luke
Give, and it will be given to you, said Christ. Luke 6:38.

Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Sell what you have, and give to the poor; provide yourselves purses which will not
wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near, and no
moth destroys.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:32-34

Then Jesus also said to the man who had invited him, "When you make a dinner
or a supper, do not invite your friends, or your brothers, or your relatives, or your
rich neighbors; lest they also invite you in return, and you are repaid.
But when you make a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.
And you shall be blessed; for although they cannot repay you, and you will be
repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Luke 14:12-14

And Zacchaeus stood, and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, I give half of my goods
to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man falsely, I restore four
times as much to him."
And Jesus said to him, "This day salvation has come to this house, for he also is a
son of Abraham. Luke 19:8-9

Acts
There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort
called the Italian Cohort,
He was a devout man who feared God along with all his household, who gave
many charitable gifts to the poor, and who prayed to God always.
Evidently in about the ninth hour of the day he saw a vision of an angel of God
coming to him and saying to him, Cornelius.
When he saw him, he was afraid and said, "What is it, Lord? " And he said to him,
"Your prayers and acts of charity to the poor have come up as a memorial before
God. Acts 10:1-4

Romans
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be arrogant, but respectfully
associate with the poor. Do not be conceited with a high opinion of yourself. Rom
12:16

Galatians
And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars [in the church],
perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave to Barnabas and me the right
hand of fellowship; that we should go to the heathen, and they to the
circumcision.
They only asked that we remember the poor; the same thing I was also eager to
do. Gal 2:9-10

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Gal 5:6
2 Corinthians
But this I say, He who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows
bountifully shall also reap bountifully. 2 Cor 9:6

From your excess, practice generously giving to others -- particularly

the poor. 2 Cor 9:9

1 Timothy
Charge those who are rich in this world not to be high minded, nor trust in
uncertain riches, but in the living God who gives us richly all things to enjoy;

[Charge] that they do good, to become rich in good works, ready to give, willing to
share, 1 Timothy 6:17-18

James
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit the orphans
in need and the widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the
world [its lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eye, and pride of life]. James 1:27

Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich
in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
James 2:5

He who has shown no mercy, will receive judgment without mercy. And mercy
triumphs over judgment.
What does it profit, my brothers, if a man says he has faith, and does not have
works? Can faith save him?
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,
And if one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, may you be warmed and filled;'
while you have failed to give them those things that are necessities for life, what
good have you done?
Even so faith, if it is not accompanied with works, is dead, by itself. James 2:13-17

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