“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward him for what he has done.” – Prov 19:17
Giving to the poor and needy is close to God’s heart. We see it when Jesus speaks of giving to the needy in the Sermon on the Mount. He does not say “if you give to the needy,” but rather “…when you give to the needy…” (Matt 6:2). He shows us the importance of the command by assuming we will do it. He does the same with prayer and fasting “…when you pray…when you fast…” (Matt 6:5, 16). Interestingly enough He tells us to do these things in secret and to know that the Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Proverbs 19:17 tells us, “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.” The importance can easily be seen again in Proverbs 14:31, “He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to needy honors God.” Certainly God does not take the needs of the poor lightly. He tells us that the righteous must care about just for the poor (Prov 29:7). He tells us that if we have possessions but do not take pity on those in need, the love of God is not in us (1 John 3:17). How can we look at these passages and not see the seriousness with which God has clearly spoken about our responsibilities to the poor?
Let’s look at this from another angle. Consider Cornelius for a moment if you will. His is the first gentile household to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Why did God start with him? Funny you should ask. Well, it just so happens, that it may have something to do with his giving to the poor. Incredible? Coincidence? I don’t think so. Here’s why. Scripture specifically mentions, not once, not twice, but three times, that Cornelius prayed and gave gifts to the poor (Acts 10:2, 4, 31) in the telling of the story. First, it is mentioned that he “gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly” (v2). Second it is mentioned that his “prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God” (v4). Lastly it is mentioned that “God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor” (v31). It must have been important to God that it be recorded three times. Then consider, “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses” (Prov 28:27). I think it is fair to say God wanted to bless Cornelius for his prayers and gifts to the poor. And why not, scripture records him and his family as a devout and God-fearing (v2), how could He who is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him not bless the giving and obedience with the fear of God combined in this man?
Here’s another angle for you. Jesus, in asking us to give from our abundance to the poor, is not asking us to do anything He has not already done for us. “For you know that grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Cor 8:9). Jesus left the place where His preeminence was celebrated to come to earth. He set aside omnipotence to become completely vulnerable. He set aside omniscience to be able to learn. He set aside omnipresence to be present as a baby. He set aside the infinite to become finite. He set aside glory to be a servant (see Phil 2). He gave up everything that was rightfully His to come as Messiah and suffer so our sins could be forgiven, our spirits be born-again, our souls be restored to health and peace.
We ARE the POOR.
So, He tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves and gives us the story of the Good Samaritan to show us what a neighbor really is (Luke 10:27-37). He also gives us this remembrance…“‘Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” 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”’” (Matt 25:37-40). Which brings us back to the Sermon on the Mount tells us to, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 10:33-34, cf Matt 6:19-21).
References
All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.
Some of the preceding Scripture references gleaned from “The Care of the Poor and Needy.” and “Riches and Poverty.” Life in the Spirit Study Bible. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan 2003, pp 1326-1327, 1580-1581 respectively
