The Imperative of

Made in the Image

A Bible Study Regarding the Church’s Response to Poverty

Alabama Poverty Project © 2007

- 13 -
 Table of Contents

Introduction

I. Background 12

II. Stating the Problem 12

III. Defining the Terms 16

IV. Cost or Price - Which Will You Pay? 18

V. The Lord God - Maker of Us All 18

VI. The Poor You Have With You Always 19

VII. Do Not As Some Do 19

VIII. The Works That I Do Shall You Do Also 19

IX. DIY 19

X. A Call To Action 20

XI. Know Them Who Labor Among You 20

XII. Be Instant In Season and Out 20

XIII. Somebody’s Watching You 20

XIV. Commentary 21

References 24

- 14 -
 Introduction

This Bible study is presented in such a manner as to allow

participants to customize the study to suit their needs. Topics are listed
with various scriptures for in-depth study. While the lists are not
comprehensive, they will serve as a good starting point. The commentary at
the end can be used as a guide, or as a separate, more structured study.
Approached with prayer and an open and receptive heart, the lessons
will enlighten and challenge. It is time that we were about our Father’s
business.

- 15 -
I. Background

Gen. 1:27-28a God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He
him; male and female created He them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them,
Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it.
.
Gen. 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his
nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Gen. 9:5-6 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I
require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of
man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God
made he man.

Rom. 1:21-23 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were
thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and
fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

Mark 14:7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them
good: but me ye have not always.

II. Stating the Problem

Matt. 6:21 and Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Ezek. 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have
vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully.

Prov. 30:14 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.

Prov. 22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

III. Defining the Terms

A. From the Dictionary

Alms - 1. money, food, clothing, etc. given to poor people. 2. a deed of mercy.

Heart - 4. the central, vital or main part; real meaning; essence, core. 5. the human heart
considered as the center or source of emotions, personality attributes, etc. specifically, a) inmost
thought and feeling, consciousness or conscience; b) the source of emotions contrasted with the
head, the source of intellect, c) one’s emotional nature or disposition, d) any of various human
feelings; love, devotion, sympathy, etc. e) mood, feeling, f) spirit, resolution or courage.

Imperative - 1. having the nature of , or indicating, power or authority; commanding 2.

absolutely necessary; urgent; compelling Gram. 3. designating or of the mood of a verb that
expresses a command, strong request, or exhortation 1. a binding or compelling rule, duty,
requirement, etc. 2. a command; order.

- 16 -
Judge - 3. a person qualified to give an opinion or decide on the relative worth of anything. 4.
to form an idea, opinion or estimate about (any matter).

Know - apprehend, 1. to have a clear perception or understanding of; be sure of or well

informed about. 2. to be aware or cognizant of; have perceived or learned. 3. to have a firm
mental grasp of; have securely in the memory. 4. to be acquainted or familiar with. 5. to have
understanding of or skill in as a result of study or experience.

Poor - 1. a) lacking material possessions; having little or no means to support oneself; needy;
impoverished b) indicating or characterized by poverty 2. lacking in some quality or thing; a)
lacking abundance; scanty; inadequate, b) lacking productivity; barren; sterile c) lacking
nourishment; feeble; emaciated d) lacking excellence or worth; below average, inferior, bad, etc.
or paltry, mean, insignificant, etc. e) lacking good moral or mental qualities; mean-spirited;
contemptible f) lacking pleasure, comfort, or satisfaction g) lacking skill 3. worthy of pity ;
unfortunate. SYN. -- poor is the simple, direct term for one who lacks the resources for
reasonably comfortable living.

Treasure - 1. accumulated or stored wealth, esp. in the form of money, precious metals, jewels,
etc. 2. any person or thing considered very valuable.

B. From the Bible (Biblical definitions are coded according to the numbering system found in
James Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible.)

Alms - 1654. merciful. Mercifulness, (active) compassion.

Command - 1291. denoting transition, to send, to give a charge. 1297. to command, arrange
in its proper order. The order, commandment, or edict itself; the decree of the king. 1299. to
appoint, order. An ordinance. 1778. to charge, command. A commandment but emphasizing the
thing commanded, a commission, mandate, precept.

Heart - 2588. the seat and center of human life. (I) As the seat of the desires, feelings,
affections, passions, impulses. the heart or mind. (A) Generally (Mat. 5:8), “the pure in heart”
meaning those whose center of life has been made pure by Jesus Christ. The counsels or
dispositions of the heart or inner man.(III) In the New Testament the heart represents
especially the sphere of God’s influence in the human life. It is in the heart that the natural
knowledge of God has its seat, and there also in the light of His knowledge, the glory of God
shines in the face of Jesus Christ.

Know - 319. to make oneself known. 588. approve, accept. 5318. manifest. 1096. become, to
become manifest. 1921. to fully know. 1987. to understand. 3129. to learn. 3670. to
acknowledge, confess. 3858. to admit. 4856. to agree with.

Judge - 144. to perceive with the external senses as well as the mind. Involves knowledge
based upon experience. 350. To discern to examine accurately (judicial) to ask. 1106.
Discernment determines conduct. Recognize the counsel given without a command from the
(counselor). Good will, something thought through the opposite of willful ignorance. To separate
oneself from those on whom Christians show mercy. To stand at a crossroad with uncertainty.
1341. A judgment which renders justice and produces right. Opposite of favoritism and
partiality. 2233. to esteem an individual in a particular light. 2250. moral light. 2917. to judge
rightly, according to the flesh, generally unfavorable, to vindicate, avenge.

- 17 -
Poor - 3993. to work for a living. Poor, but able to help oneself through his own labor or toil.
3998. Miserably poor, poor and needy, utterly destitute; 4433. poor and helpless. To be or
become poor, helpless, and therefore to beg. 4434. to crouch, cower like a beggar, poor and
helpless,, someone in abject poverty, utter helplessness, complete destitution, dependent on
alms such as a beggar. A poor, helpless man and therefore a beggar. The poor, meaning the
needy, those destitute of the necessities of life and subsisting on the alms of others. Of those who
voluntarily become poor for the Son of man’s sake. Generally, poor, needy...one who may be
poor but earns his bread by daily labor; also spoken of most poverty without the idea of begging
as opposed to the rich. By Implication, poor, low, humble, of low estate, including also the idea
of being afflicted, distressed, poverty, want, helplessness, lacking, deficient; pitiful, miserable.

Treasure - 2344. (I) Treasure, anything laid up in store, wealth. Metaphorically, of spiritual
treasures pertaining to the mind or to eternal life. (II) Treasury, place where treasures or stores
are kept, storehouse, Metaphorically, the storehouse of the mind, where the thoughts, feelings or
counsels are laid up.

IV. Cost or Price - Which Will You Pay?

Prov. 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent
maketh rich.
Prov. 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Prov. 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor,
happy is he.
Prov. 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have
many a curse.
Prov. 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall
not be heard.
Prov. 29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to
know it.
Prov. 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him
hath mercy on the poor.

V. The Lord God - Maker of Us All

Job 5:15-16 But He saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of
the mighty. So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
Job 31:15 Did not He that made me in the womb make him? and did not One fashion us in the
womb?
Job 34:19 How much less to him] that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the
rich more than the poor? for they all [are] the work of his hands.
Job 36:15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
Ps. 72:12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no
helper.
Ps. 140:12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the
poor.
Zech. 7:10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let
none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
II Cor. 9:9 As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; He hath given to the poor: His
righteousness remaineth for ever.

- 18 -
VI. The Poor You Have With You Always

Levi. 19:10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather [every] grape of
thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I [am] the LORD your God.
Zeph. 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall
trust in the name of the LORD.
Matt. 26:11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

VII. Do Not As Some Do

Deut. 15:9 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year,
the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him
nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.
Job 24:4 They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together.
Prov. 22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich,
shall surely come to want.
Jer. 5:28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge
not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not
judge.
Prov. 17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities
shall not be unpunished.
Jas. 2:3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou
here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:

VIII. The Works That I Do Shall You Do Also

Levi. 19:15 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of
the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: [but] in righteousness shalt thou judge thy
neighbour.
Deut. 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in
thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine
hand from thy poor brother:
Job 20:10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
Ps. 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
Ps. 82:3-4 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.
Prov. 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath
given will he pay him again.

IX. DIY - The Do-It-Yourself Version of “Somebody Ought To Do

Something”

Deut. 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying,
Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Job 34:31-32 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not
offend [any more]: [That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no
more.
Prov. 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the
needy.

- 19 -
Isa. 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out
to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself
from thine own flesh?
Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:

X. A Call To Action

Prov. 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Dan. 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by
righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of
thy tranquility.
Gal. 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was
forward to do.

XI. Know Them Which Labor Among You

Ps. 10:4, 11 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God
[is] not in all his thoughts. He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he
will never see [it].
Job 34:27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
Job 29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment [was] as a robe and a
diadem.
Jer. 22:16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this
to know me? saith the LORD.

XII. Be Instant In Season and Out - Preach the Gospel

Ps. 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the
LORD; I will set [him] in safety [from him that] puffeth at him.
Ps. 34:6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Isa. 29:19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall
rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Matt. 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf
hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the
gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach
the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is
the kingdom of God.

XIII. Somebody’s Watching You

Job 24:1 Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see
his days?
Job 34:30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
Psalm 10:16 The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
Prov. 22:22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Matt. 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to
the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

- 20 -
Mark 12:41-43 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money
into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow,
and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and
saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they
which have cast into the treasury:

XIV. Commentary

“At the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man...for in the image of God
made He man.” We are, indeed, our brother’s keeper. God has ordained it to be so, yet man does
not appear, in many cases, to be aware of this central tenet of the godly life.

“In the beginning” man was given an assignment in the earth before he ever received a
body. (See Gen. 1:27-28 and Gen. 2:7) “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth; and
subdue it:” Mission accomplished, right? Perhaps not. Let’s take a closer look.

“Replenish”, according to Webster’s New World Dictionary, Second College Edition,

means “to make full or complete again, as by furnishing a new supply.” Keeping in mind that our
objective is to explore the Church’s obligation to the poor and needy, the fact that we have failed
to complete our assignment is glaringly obvious.

There’s no arguing that we’ve taken care of the “multiply” part; and essentially the same
may be said of the third command, “to subdue the earth.” We have managed to “withdraw,
bring into subjection and cultivation; conquer; vanquish; overcome; and control” one frontier
after another until very little of our world remains pristine. So how have we managed to miss the
mark where replenishing is concerned?

Rom. 1:21-23 answers this question quite well. “Because that, when they knew God, they
glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and
their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and
changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man...”
Money became our focus and our god.

“The love of money.” “Every man for himself.” “It’s a dog eat dog world.” “God bless us
four and no more.” “Survival of the fittest.” “Self-made man.” “Somebody ought to do
something.” Selfishness, pride, apathy; call it what you want, but the bottom line is
disobedience.

To begin laying a foundation for greater understanding, let’s start by asking two very
simple questions. Do you know God? Do you love Him? Let’s turn again to the Bible to help us
answer these questions truthfully.

“If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15

“And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

I John 2:3
“He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not
in him.” I John 2:4

- 21 -
Let’s ask those same questions again. Based on what the Word says about loving and knowing
God; do you love Him? Do you know Him? Clearly, for either of these questions to be truthfully
answered in the affirmative, we must keep His commandments.

Now that that’s settled, let’s find out what His commandments are regarding our
responsibility to the poor and needy.

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor
honour the person of the mighty: [but] in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.” Levi.
19:15

“For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt
open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.” Deut. 15:11

“Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.”
Prov. 31:9

“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.” Ps. 82:3-4

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Gal. 5:14

“But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels
of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” 1 John 3:17

Although not an exhaustive list by any means, the scriptures shown above will get us well
on our way toward understanding the Church’s mandate to “replenish.”

The definitions given herein are from both Webster’s New World Dictionary of the
American Language, Second College Edition and The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New
Testament. This comparison of secular and biblical definitions is provided to assist us in
understanding the differences between how the world generally thinks and how Christians
might view the world around them. While there are many commonalities, a quick perusal will
identify some interesting differences. For example, the dictionary defines the poor as simply
“lacking material possessions,” while, in at least one place, the Bible defines the poor as those
who “work for a living.” (II Cor. 9:9).

In the book of Proverbs, the wisdom of Solomon vividly contrasts both the cost and the
price involved in our treatment of the poor and needy. Perhaps the most troubling truth is found
in Proverbs 21:13. “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but
shall not be heard.” This revelation alone should be enough to rouse even the most apathetic
among us.

“Did not He that made me in the womb make him? And did not One fashion us in the
womb?” Job 31:15

Have you ever contemplated the many facets of these rhetorical questions? Job 34:19
tells us that we are all “the work of His hands,” so why is it that some people seem to have won
the genetic or financial lottery and others struggle all their lives just to keep their heads above
water where health and finances are concerned?

- 22 -
 “...the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work...” I Ptr.
1:17a

So then, is it their own fault that they are poor, or is the Church somehow at fault? Have
we done our part? The Bible tells us that during His earthly ministry, one of the things that
Jesus referred to as proof that He was indeed “He that should come” [the Messiah] was that “the
poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Matt. 11:5) This “good news” prescription appears in
the same verse along with “the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are
cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up...” Therefore, we can easily qualify the
preaching of the gospel as a means of reversing the effects of, or eliminating, poverty. “And he
lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of
God.” Luke 6:20. A major part of the task of replenishing then is teaching the poor to access the
kingdom of God.

“And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it
profit?” Jas. 2:16

Preaching the gospel to the poor is more than words. The truth of God’s Word will not
only replenish the spirit, but when mixed with faith and given time, the stuff of life itself. What
about the waiting period? How can the Church effectively assist the poor and needy in bridging
the gap between seed time and harvest? Do the works of Christ. He fed those who followed Him.
(See Matt. 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, John 6 and Acts 4.) Go ye and do likewise.

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he
pay him again.” Prov. 19:17
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”
Ps. 41:1

Without question, many would assent to the following statement: “Somebody ought to
do something.” However, exceptions not withstanding, these same people would balk at the
following: “Do it yourself.” God forbid that the Church should fall into the category of “a
disobedient and gainsaying people.” (Rom. 10:21) (Those who speak or act against the truth of
God’s Word.) It is far more profitable to simply do as the Bible instructs. If in doubt, observe the
following:

“Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne [chastisement], I will not offend [any
more]: [That which] I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.” Job
34:31-32

The call to action is to all of us. (See II Cor. 5:14-21) It involves preaching, feeding,
clothing, and becoming a dependable, consistent, change agent. Let us now be spurred to
answer the call, spurred on to complete mankind’s original assignment. Accepting our
responsibility “to make full or complete again, as by furnishing a new supply,” we can replenish
the earth.

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over
you in the Lord, and admonish you;” I Thess. 5:12.

Follow those who follow Christ. Beware of those who would do otherwise.

- 23 -
 “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings.” Job 34:21

“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the
widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be
willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be
devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.” Isa. 1: 17-20

“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”
Matt. 25:40

References

Bible - King James Version

“MacSword” modified Nov. 2004. Online. http://www.macsword.com

Dictionary
Guralnik, David, ed. Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language,
Second College Edition. Cleveland - New York: William Collins + World Publishing Co.,
Inc. 1976.

Word Study Dictionary

Zodhiates, Th.D., Spiros, ed. The Complete Word Study Dictionary: New
Testament. Chattanooga: AMG International, Inc. rev. ed. 1993.

About the Author: Debra Thomas Jones, a member of APP’s Board of Directors, is a chaplain with the Department of Corrections,
Birmingham Work Release Center for Women

- 24 -