Scripture says in Psalm 41: 1-3, Blessed are those who have regard for the weak (poor); the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. The Lord protects and preserves them- they are counted among the blessed in the land- he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.
The psalmist’s testifies of the Lord’s blessings, deliverance, protection, preservation, sustenance, and restoration which accompany those who are compassionate to the needy. Our love and compassion shows God’s nature in us. 1John 1: 16-17 say, God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In the world we are like Jesus. Is our love complete and shows that we are truly like Jesus in this world?
God’s watches over the poor
As a general divine rule, 1John 4: 8 says, whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. God first loved us even when we were wretched and poor. Romans 5: 8 says, God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus died for us when we were without any hope. Will we also sacrifice for the weak? Job 34: 21 says, “His eyes are on the ways of mortals; he sees their every step.
We glorify God when we love and bless the needy. 1 Corinthians 10: 31 says, so, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Giving to the needy must be done gracefully and with dignity. Jesus said in John 14: 23-24, Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. Jesus rehashed this in Mark 4: 24; Luke 6: 38, “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you-even more.
We lend to God through the poor
Jesus’ teaching about giving to the needy states in Luke 14: 13… Although they (the poor) cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. To Jesus, giving to the poor cements perfect love. He said in Matthew 19: 21; Mark 10: 21; Luke 19: 8, “If you want to be perfect, go, well your possessions and give to the poor, and will have much treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me.”
Giving to the poor must be based on true love for God, not merely giving. So, Paul said in 1Corinthians 13: 3, if I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Without love, giving to the poor is empty and so is following Jesus. The needy look up to us expecting Jesus to manifest. Luke 12: 48 says, from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
How Jesus set the first example
Jesus said in Matthew 20: 28; Mark 10: 45, the Son of Man came to give his life as a ransom for many. In other words, Jesus used his life as payoff for mankind when we could not pay off our debts for sin to God. Paul says in 2Corinthians 8: 9… though Christ Jesus was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Sacrificing our comfort to bring some joy to the poor by which they may praise God must be our focus just as Christ happily did for us.
Jesus expected no payback which in any case we could never afford. Likewise, in helping the needy, we should expect no payback. Jesus said in Matthew 5: 46-48, if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. As stated above, showing love for the needy perfects our love in Christ Jesus.
The cost of giving to the poor
No, God who pays back manifold. Proverbs 19: 17 says, whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 28: 27 says, those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. These confirm that we incur no loss by giving to the needy. Jesus said in Luke 11: 41, be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. Generosity to the needy opens the door of grace in Christ Jesus.
Rather than caring for the needy, we mock them, which God sees as contempt. Proverbs 17: 8 says, whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker. We are further cautioned in Proverbs 21: 13, whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered. This is what Jesus said in Matthew 7: 12; Luke 6: 31, so, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. God does not take humiliating the poor lightly.
Failing to support the poor
The sin of Sodom was primarily neglecting the poor. Ezekiel 16: 49 says, “Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. So, as members of God’s family, let us cheerfully support the needy among us, just as the converts in Macedonia and Achaia did for the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. Romans 15: 26 says, they were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem.
Paul wrote in Philippians 4: 8 finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. May we be guided by the Holy Spirit to judge whether or not giving to or caring for the poor or needy is God’s delight.
Reflection
Jesus said in Matthew 25: 35-46, I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me… just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. Jesus said to the other group… just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. God is glorified and delighted in our love for the needy.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, revive our love for the needy knowing that in lending to the needy, we rather lend to you. Always remind us that by blessing the needy through the sacrifice of giving, we perfect our love in you. We pray in your blessed Holy name, Amen!!
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