A Biblical Perspective on Helping The Poor

Category: Social Topics

Community Advocate

Debra Hampton-Robinson is a 40-year student of the Bible, Wife, Mother of 5, grandmother, and committed woman of God.

Guest Blogger and Author:

Debra Hampton-Robinson

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​The Bible has a multitude of mandates on our responsibility to the poor. Today we will only scratch the surface of a very few.
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We will take a brief look at a few scriptures that actually speak for themselves but what is a blog if you don't speak too.

The Bible reads, "For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore, I command you saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11 NAS.

That lets us know that there will always be poor and that we are to always generously help them. Note that it mentions poor and needy. They are two different things…I'll let you think about that for another time, since it is not our topic today.

We see from just this one reference that we are to help those in need.

The Bible says more…it tells us that we are not to judge. In the world that we live in it has become popular to say, " Don't judge me" or "I'm not judging."  To me, these are code for "I know I should be judged" and "I said I'm not judging you so you won't think that I'm not, but I am alright."  But a genuine heart of giving should be doing it without judging. There are consequences to judging that we can avoid.

The Bible says, "Judge not that you be not judged." Matthew 7:1 KJV. For the sake of this article we are going to subscribe a definition to judge as: “To form an opinion based on what you think you know, draw a conclusion and deliver a verdict.”

It is so simple to see someone or even know many details of their situation and form an opinion of why it is how it is and what they should have done to be out of it. The danger in that is that you set yourself up to be judged too. If not by God, certainly by other humans. (We know how awful that can be).

Someone’s judgement of you can affect a number of areas of your life:

• How you are perceived
• How you are received, and,
• How you interact in other relationships

We can say we don't care, and that can be true, but it doesn't stop others judgement of you from affecting things that you have little control over.  So, when we are helping someone up, be careful not to pull yourself down by judging yourself as better than them, it has consequences.
Lastly, the Bible says," He that hath pity on the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and, that which he hath given will he repay him again." Proverbs 19:17.

I've read a few things about how God gives.  A recurring theme that I found is that he multiples. (I'll take that).  The Bible says he does exceedingly above all that we could ask or think. I can ask a lot and I can think a lot and I want him to write my paychecks!

The Bible says, "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."  I want everything I do to honor God…I don't want to show contempt…I don't want to judge…I don't want to be stingy.

I was going to say that I don't want to be selfish, but I realized that in some ways giving is selfish.  It makes you feel so good that the act of giving and helping is sometimes as much for you as it is for others. Jesus said it is better to give than to receive.  That has meant many things - but one is that it makes you feel good  It can bring you joy, make you feel like you made a difference...if just for the moment, it can make you feel better about yourself.
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So, in a sense this is one time it is okay to be selfish.  I say be selfish and generous at the same time.  God bless you and I hope something of my beliefs has helped you.

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