The scriptures mandate that people who are blessed be generous to the poor. Since the beginning of time, God expects his people to feed and clothe the poor. James said, “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘God in peace, be warmed and filed,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?” (James 2:15-16 ESV). James goes on to say that faith without works is dead.
Jesus modeled this kind of living. He was poor himslef, yet daily provided the needs of large crowds. He cared for the sick, often healing them. He fed the hungry, sometimes by the thousands. He taught people that a little bit of faith goes a very long way. Deuteronomy says a lot about caring for the poor: “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother” Deuteronomy 15:7). Strict rules were put into place by God to ensure that poor people were fed and taken care of.
We know that in the New Testament, beggars were often ignored despite the laws that were in place to care for them. Jesus criticized people for not caring for the needy and even said that God would separate people at judgement based on their willingness to help the poor. We have ample opportunity to care for the poor in our own community. That should be the centerpiece of the church’s work and it should be a joy to care for them.
