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What Does The Bible Say About Helping The Needy

We Need To Care For Our Family

What Does the Bible Say About Helping Others?

Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you.

Deuteronomy 5:16

God instructs children to honor their parents. When do your parents quit being your parents? Well, never. We are to honor our parents our whole lives, including caring for them if they need it.

There are some caveats to this which well touch on later, but if your parents need your help and you can do so financially, you are encouraged to do so.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Helping your family financially includes providing for your children when they are young. It also includes training them in the way God commands. We train our children to work diligently, to treat others with kindness, and to give.

Training children in Biblical principles surrounding money is an excellent way to help them grow into self-sufficient adults.

Of course, their monetary decisions will be their own, but if you can teach them from lessons youve learned, hopefully, their mistakes will be fewer and less impactful on their financial futures.

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

1 Timothy 5:8

If any woman who is a believer has widows in her care, she should continue to help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need.

1 Timothy 5:16

Help The Poor Among Your Fellow Israelites

If anyone is poor among your fellow Israelites in any of the towns of the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.

Throughout the Old Testament, God offers explicit instructions to His people about how to treat others. He instructs them to take care of one another, and He encourages them to take care of outsiders. He doesnt leave the issue open to interpretation. The Israelites should have everyones good in mind.

This sentiment is echoed in the New Testament when Jesus instructs an expert in the law. He sums up the entire law as loving God and loving our neighbor. To justify himself, the lawyer asks, And who is my neighbor? Thats when Jesus gives the Parable of the Good Samaritan, showing that were all one anothers neighbor.

Christian Quotes About Helping Others

What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. Augustine

God has chosen us to help one another. Smith Wigglesworth

There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others. Mandy Hale

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. Charles Spurgeon

Have you ever noticed how much of Christs life was spent in doing kind things? Henry Drummond

A Christian reveals true humility by showing the gentleness of Christ, by being always ready to help others, by speaking kind words and performing unselfish acts, which elevate and ennoble the most sacred message that has come to our world.

Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.

A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. Charles Spurgeon

Somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others. Martin Luther King Jr.

Find out how much God has given you and from it take what you need the remainder is needed by others. Saint Augustine

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The Holiness Of Helpfulness

Helping others isnt just a good thing to do it is a holy thing to do. This means that helping others is one of the ways that God sets apart his church in the world. Christians are meant to separate themselves from the spirit of this age by refusing to live selfish lives and, instead, serving others.

Matthew 5:42: Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Ephesians 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Galatians 2:10: Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

Galatians 6:2: Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Hebrews 6:10: God is not unjust he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.

Hebrews 13:16: And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Luke 6:30: Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back.

John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this: to lay down ones life for ones friends.

Romans 12:10: Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 12:13: Share with the Lords people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Bible Verses About Gods Justice For The Poor

7 Bible Verses About Helping Others

FHs founder Larry Ward read the following verses in Psalm 146, when he was inspired to start Food for the Hungry. Its clear that poverty is a result of brokenness in our world, but the Bible says that the Lord will bring justice for the poor in due time.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in themhe remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free. Psalm 146:5-7

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

Deuteronomy 26:6-9But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, subjecting us to harsh labor. Then we cried out to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, and the Lord heard our voice and saw our misery, toil, and oppression. So the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with signs and wonders. He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

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Hearing The Cries Of The Poor

Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.

Its easy to look at this verse and assume that its saying that God doesnt answer the prayers of those who ignore the needs of the poor, but thats not really how God works. God doesnt ignore us because of our failures. But how we treat others is one factor that He considers when considering how to respond.

The author of Proverbs wants to communicate something simple but profound. The Hebrews lived in a community. By ignoring the cries of the poor, they would create a culture where it was easy to turn a blind eye toward needs. Unfortunately, they would eventually be the ones in need, and no one would answer when they cried out.

Christian Service: Serving Others And Seeking Social Justice

“Real religion, thekind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless intheir plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.” — James 1:27, TheMessage

What does Sacred Scripture have to say about helping needy people the poor, thehomeless, the orphans, and the widows? Are there Bible passages which clearly say we must have compassion for those who are poverty-stricken and that we should be giving to the lessfortunate? What biblical foundations are there for service to the vulnerable, to those who aremarginalized and to the oppressed?

How to care for the poor? How are we to provide for the hungry? What are we do to aboutthe marginalized who are treated unjustly? Here are instructions from the Bible. Looking forslogan for a promotion about helping the less fortunate, feeding the poor and ministering to thoseon the street asking for money? Use a phrase from one of the following Scripture verses as aslogan to promote helping others.

It’s clear from these passages that God cares about ourattitudes toward and actions regarding the hungry, the oppressed, the widows, the strangers, andthe or orphans. There are verses here that speak of God’s people being chastised for not treatingpoverty survivors as equals.

Unless otherwise specified, the wording in thebiblical passages is from the English language The New InternationalVersion.

— Howard Culbertson

New Testament passages

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Give To Those In Need But Dont Boast About It Jesus

Matthew 6:1Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.2 So when you give to the needy, dont announce it with trumpets like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be honoured by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full!3 But when you give to the needy, dont let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Giving quietly.

At the heart of our discipleship is the question of what God wants us to do with what He has given us. The way of service is to respond to people we meet along the way as Jesus would have, in self-giving love. They are many more needy people in todays world than when Jesus spoke these words to the show-offs in the Temple.

Charity was seen as one of the duties of the Jewish people, required by the Law. Jesus criticised the hypocrites who made a show of their giving to draw the attention of others as to what a good person they were. Rewards in the Kingdom of God are not material things or prestige, but life-giving relationships and communion with God and his children. These rewards are given through grace and cant be earned. Our loving Father is not an accountant. And Jesus, who fulfilled the Law, freed us to act in selfless love.

Examples Of Helping Others In The Bible

What Does The Bible Say About The Poor?

23. Luke 8:3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herods household Susanna and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

24. Job 29:11-12 Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist them.

25. Matthew 19:20-22 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Bonus

Mark 12:31 And the second is like, namely this,Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

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The Generous Will Themselves Be Blessed For They Share Their Food With The Poor

God will bless those that are generous with their possessions and time. If there is someone needy in your land and you assist them by sharing in the harvest of your land, you will receive the grace of our Lord.

If anyone who has food and shares with their brothers and sisters knows that the Lord will bless them. This act shows some justice for the poor, and the Lord Jesus will acknowledge this.

The Wicked Borrow And Do Not Repay But The Righteous Give Generously

In this Bible verse about helping the poor, we learn two important lessons. The first being that God does not look favorably on those that do not pay their debts. It reminds us to always repay what we have borrowed.

The second lesson is that the Lord looks favorably on those that give generously, calling them virtuous. The Bible speaks of raising the poor from the dust and the needy from the ash. By having generosity in your heart and serving one of your brothers or sisters, you are assisting in fulfilling these Biblical revelations.

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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

This is just one of the Bible verses about helping the needy where we are told that if we give to a poor brother we will be given to in return. Sometimes it is difficult to give out to the poor as we feel as though we are just losing out and not gaining anything in return. However, God reminds us that he will honor our actions and we will have treasure in Heaven.

What Does The Bible Say About Helping Others

Rose of Lima Quote: When we serve the poor and the sick we serve Jesus ...

Scripture tells us that Christians should consider the interest of others and help those in need. If someone asks you to pray for them, then pray. If someone begs for some water, food, or money, then give it to them. When you do these righteous things you are doing Gods will, working for God, and bringing happiness and blessings on others.

Dont help others for show or recognition like some hypocrite celebrities who turn on cameras just to help someone.

Do it not with a grudging heart, but with a loving heart.

Every act of kindness to others is an act of kindness to Christ.

I encourage you to start today and lend a helping hand to others in need.

We shouldnt just limit helping people to just giving them money, food, and clothes. Sometimes people just need someone there to listen.

Sometimes people just need words of wisdom. Think about the many different ways you can help the needy today.

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Verses About Helping The Poor

1) Psalm 34:6This poor man called, and the Lord heard him he saved him out of all his troubles.

2) Psalm 35:10My whole being will exclaim, Who is like you, Lord?You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,the poor and needy from those who rob them.

3) Psalm 82:3Defend the weak and the fatherless uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

4) Psalm 109:30-31With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him.For he stands at the right hand of the needy,to save their lives from those who would condemn them.

5) Psalm 113:7He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap

6) Psalm 140:12I know that the Lord secures justice for the poorand upholds the cause of the needy.

7) Psalm 146:8The Lord gives sight to the blind,the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,the Lord loves the righteous.

8) Proverbs 14:31Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

9) Proverbs 14:21It is a sin to despise ones neighbor,but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.

10) Proverbs 19:17Whoever is kind to the poor lends to theLord,and he will reward them for what they have done.

11) Proverbs 22:9The generous will themselves be blessed,for they share their food with the poor.

12) Proverbs 28:27Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

What do you think?

Why Read Bible Verses About Helping Others

Life is tough, and the world can be harsh and unfair. Sometimes you might hesitate to do a good deed. Perhaps you dont want your efforts to be in vain, so you would rather do nothing, even if this runs against your conscience.

This is where the words of the Lord can be helpful. Remembering or reading verses from the Bible can inspire you to move beyond your worries. Knowing that God is watching over you gives you assurance that you are loved and appreciated.

We believe that it is human nature to be kind and helpful to others, and we have faith in the goodness that everyone possesses. Sometimes we just need a little reminder from the Bible to help us do what is right.

To that end, let us share with you what the Bible has to say about helping others!

  • Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4
  • Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Luke 12:33-34
  • Carry each others burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
  • Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17
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