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Poverty

For the Christian, every conversation about poverty should be based on the Heart of Father and His boundless love for children. Every single human being is a precious image-bearer of God Himself, and everything in the earth—every resource—belongs to Him.

There need be no poor people among you, for in the land the Lord your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you, if only you fully obey the Lord your God and are careful to follow all these commands I am giving you today.

- Deuteronomy 15:4-5

Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

- Proverbs 31:8-9

He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

- Job 5:15-16

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.

- Proverbs 19:17

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

- Luke 6:38

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

- James 1:27

For the Christian, every conversation about poverty should be based on the Heart of Father and His boundless love for children. Every single human being is a precious image-bearer of God Himself (Genesis 1:27), and everything in the earth—every resource—belongs to Him (Deuteronomy 10:14, James 1:17).

Scripture is clear: our treasures are not to be the perishable things of this world, but eternal riches based on His economy of mercy and grace (Matthew 5:3 Matthew 6:19-21, James 2:5). Jesus taught that while the enemy of our souls comes to destroy, He came to bring us “life and life more abundantly.” (John 10:10). While everything is the Lord’s, He entrust some things to us to steward for His Kingdom, including caring for the poor and needy (1 Chronicles 29:12, Matthew 25:14-30, 1 John 3:17–18, Proverbs 28:27, 1 Timothy 5:8). When we embrace the Lord’s call to steward our treasure and talents for ministry in the Kingdom, we can make a difference here on this earth and for eternity.

Imagine local communities and even nations shaped by the teachings of the Word of God, filled with citizens like the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37, or a sprit-filled church devoted to being the hands and feet of Jesus. Every individual believer has a calling to use all that God has blessed him with for the Kingdom’s good purpose.

Christian businessmen can honor the Lord by treating employees well, using job creation to lift others out of poverty, and supporting other kingdom work by stewarding the profits the Lord blesses them with.

Christian economic developers and government officials can strategically consider ways to improve the well-being of the communities they serve by preserving private property and thriftily stewarding public resources.

Churches and community organizations can help meet tangible needs for the poor in ways that recognize the inherent dignity of the poor as children of God who bear His image.

Families can give (even sacrificially) of their own resources to help the less fortunate and teach their children the Biblical virtue of generosity.

Everyone has something of value to offer.

As Jesus taught in Matthew 25:34-36, when we feed the hungry or clothe the poor, it is as though we are performing that kindness unto our Savior. What will you do to love the poor with the heart of Jesus?

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