We live in a world of widespread poverty. The World Bank reports that 1.3 billion people live on a dollar a day or less. As Christians, we search the Scriptures for answers to questions: What does God say about the poor? What should our actions be towards the poor, if any at all? The answers are clear and contained in the Bible.
OLD TESTAMENT
God’s overwhelming concern for the poor is evident. The Bible clearly and repeatedly teaches that God is at work in history exalting the poor and casting down those who become rich by oppressing or neglecting the poor. He demonstrates His care for the poor by:
Commanding generosity… “There will always be the poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11)
Being their refuge… “You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the Lord is their refuge.” (Psalm 14:6)
Upholding their cause… “I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.” (Psalm 140:12)
“’He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 22:6)
Punishing their oppressors…”Woe to those who…deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people…” (Isaiah 10:2)
“This is what the Lord says: ‘For three sins of Israel, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath; They sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals. They trample on the heads of the poor as upon the dust of the ground and deny justice to the oppressed.’”
(Amos 2:6)
Rewarding those who help the poor… “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.” (Proverbs 19:17)
From the beginning of time, the Lord’s care and provision for the poor has been commanded and the oppression of the poor, punished.
JESUS’ WORDS
In the life of Christ we also see the revealed heart of God towards the poor. Jesus’ words spoken in the synagogue at Nazareth near the beginning of his public ministry are filled with and focused on giving hope to the poor. He read from the prophet Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
Other scriptures also convey Jesus’ heart for the hungry and the poor:
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in…The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:35,40)
Jesus identified closely with the poor. He took time in His teaching to show that when people meet the physical and emotional needs of those in His Father’s world, they are actually ministering to Jesus, himself. He told a rich man that he would have treasures in heaven by giving to the poor (Mark 10:21).
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
From the beginning of time, the Lord created a world of abundant resources, with enough for all to have a portion of His wealth. Though sin, selfishness, and wickedness have altered this ideal, the heart behind creation remains the same. The Lord desires every person, or family, to have equality of economic opportunity at least to the point of having access to necessary resources (land, money, education) to be able to earn a decent living and participate as dignified members of their community.
In the Old Testament we see a social ideal being depicted in which families are to have the economic means to earn their own way (Leviticus 25). In an agricultural society of biblical Israel, land was the key form of capital. Today, capital takes many forms. Nevertheless, one must look at how God divided the land and provided the people of Israel their key form of capital with governing rules (The Year of Jubilee, the Sabbatical Year, the Laws on Tithing and Gleaning, and many references not to move the ancient boundary markers). How does this apply to us today? (see handout for insight).
In the New Testament the principle of equality continues:
“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality.” (2 Corinthians 8:13-14).
Like the rich Corinthian Christians who feasted without sharing with the hungry members of the church (1 Corinthians 11:20-29), we have failed to comprehend the concept that the church worldwide is one body. The church in the past pioneered the development of schools and hospitals, the church of the future will embrace new models of economic sharing (along with spiritual sharing) to help our less fortunate neighbors around the world in creative, sustainable ways.
From beginning to end, the Scriptures beat with the compassionate heart of God calling out to His children to care for the poor and needy in this world. The problem of poverty is great. The bible gives answers and demands action.
- Portions of this article taken from Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ron Sider, 1997
