Giving to the Financially Poor — Scriptural References

Designed to:

• Help the poor: Lev. 25:35
• Give blessing: Deut. 15:10-11
• Meet basic needs: Deut. 15:7-18; Ezek. 18:7

Manner of Giving:

• A cheerful spirit: Deut. 15:7-11
• Cheerfully: 2 Cor. 9:7; Rom. 12:8
• Lovingly: 1 Cor. 13:3; 1 Cor. 16:14
• Fairly: Acts 4:32-35; James 2:2
• Without condemnation: Matt. 7:1-3
• With discernment: Matt. 14:7; 25:35; John 7:24

Cautions Concerning:

• Not for man’s honor: Matt. 6:1-4
• Not for the lazy: 2 Thess. 3:10
• Needful for the rich: 1 Tim. 6:17-20

Rewarded:

• Now: Deut. 14:28-29; 2 Cor. 9:9,11
• In heaven: Matt. 19:21

Causes of poverty:

• God’s sovereignty: 1 Sam. 2:7; Amos 4:6
• Injustice: Amos 5:12; James 5:4
• Slothfulness: Prov. 6:10-11; 24:30-34
• Love of pleasure: Prov. 21:17
• Stubbornness: Prov. 13:18
• Empty pursuits: Prov. 28:19
• Heavy drinking: Prov. 23:21

Wrong treatment of the poor:

• Reproaches God: Prov. 14:31
• Brings punishment: Prov. 21:13
• Brings poverty itself: Prov. 22:16
• Seen by God: Eccles. 5:8