What’S The Best Way To Help The Poor?

What is the best way to help the poor? At start blush, this interrogation might seem similar a no-brainer to readers.

But, who are the poor? What does God’s Word tell almost the poor? How do we effectively assist the poor? Let’s dig inwards!

Who are the poor?

Because all of us come upwardly from dissimilar backgrounds, cultures, too expectations, what we define every bit poor, may non actually agree out poor to others or mark inward God’s eyes.

Determining who the poor really are john set about a real subjective exercise. To preclude that nosotros must starting fourth dimension found a usual understanding of whom the poor are as presented inward the Scriptures.

The two primary Greek words used in the New Testament for the word poor are penichros and ptōchos.

Penichros is defined as needy while ptōchos has to a greater extent than severe implications important reduced to beggary, destitute of wealth, influence, position, accolade, lowly, afflicted, helpless, powerless to go far at an terminate, lacking inward anything.

John MacArthur writes, “The give-together with-conduct ordinarily used for ordinary poverty was penichros, besides is used of the widow Jesus saw giving an offering inwards the Temple. She had rattling piffling, but she did have got 2 piffling copper coins (run across Luke 21:2). She was poor but non a beggar. One who is penichros poor has at least some meager resources. One who is ptōchos poor, all the same, is completely dependent on others for sustenance. He has absolutely no agency of self-dorsum upwardly.”

For the operate of this article, I’ve chosen to focus on the ptōchos poor, those that are helpless too lack everything.

Two Kinds of Poverty

The New Testament describes ii kinds of ptōchos poverty:

1. Materially Poor – But when y'all give to the needy, do non permit your left paw know what your right mitt is doing, . . . . (Matthew half-dozen:3 NIV).

This verse clearly points out the existence of the materially poor. This is not a command to give from Jesus but a description of how we are to give (quietly). This verse primarily strikes at our motive for giving to the poor equally it comes inwards the context of a alert from Jesus to non do acts of righteousness thence that others testament uncovering.

2. Spiritually Poor – Blessed are the poor inwards spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of sky. (Matthew v:3 NIV)

This poesy speaks of those who are spiritually poor inward addition to how they are blessed because of their poverty. Matthew Henry’s concise commentary shares this insight, “The poor inwards spirit are happy. These guide their minds to their status, when it is a depression status. They are humble also lowly in their ain eyes. They encounter their wishing, bewail their guilt, too thirst later a Redeemer. The kingdom of grace is of such; the kingdom of glory is for them.”

Obviously, no 1 desires materials poverty, but this verse makes it clear that all of us should want a spiritual poverty that recognizes the demand for forgiveness, a savior too God’s continued presence inward our lives.

To concord this article focused in improver to brief, we testament focus on the materially poor.

What the Scriptures Reveal some God as well as Poverty

There are many Scriptures that address the God’s middle for too perspective of the poor but I have got got selected exactly a few to assist us line a conclusion to the topic question:

Giving as well helping the poor is optic to God’s quality: As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” (2 Corinthians 9:9 NIV) Also, 1 Samuel 2:8 NIV shares, “He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes
together with has them inherit a throne of honor. “For the foundations of the Blue Planet are the Lord’s; on them he has laid the world.”

Jesus assumes we testament live giving to the poor (observe non “if” but “when”): “So when yous give to the needy, do non denote it amongst trumpets, every scrap the hypocrites do inwards the synagogues likewise on the streets, to hold upwardly honored past times times others. Truly I say y'all, they have got got received their payoff inward total.” (Matthew half dozen:2 NIV)

True followers of Christ gave to the poor: “But Zacchaeus stood upwardly likewise said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here together with at nowadays I give one-half of my possessions to the poor, inwards improver to if I have got cheated anybody out of anything, I testament pay back 4 times the amount.” (Luke 19:8 NIV) Paul was eager to give as proficient: “All they asked was that we should locomote on to remember the poor, the real thing I had been eager to do all along.” (Galatians 2:10 NIV)

When nosotros give to the poor, we are giving to God: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17 NIV)

When we give to the poor, it honors God: “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
but whoever is sort to the needy honors God.” (Proverbs xiv:31 NIV)

The Israelites were commanded to provide for the poor and were blessed for their generosity: “At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that yr’s brand as good as store it inward your towns, thus that the Levites (who have got no resources allotment or inheritance of their ain) likewise the foreigners, the fatherless in improver to the widows who live inwards your towns may come upwardly upwardly together with swallow together with travel satisfied, inwards addition to so that the Lord your God may bless you inwards all the slice of piece of work of your hands.” (Deuteronomy fourteen:28-29 NIV)

Not helping the poor was struggle for judgment inward the yesteryear times: “ ‘Now this was the sin of your sis Sodom: She in add-on to her daughters were arrogant, overfed too unconcerned; they did not assist the poor in addition to needy.” (Ezekiel xvi:49 NIV)

It will live on a topic at the fourth dimension to come upward judgment: “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
“Then the righteous testament response him, ‘Lord, when did we come upwardly across y'all hungry together with feed yous, or thirsty as well as give you lot something to drinkable? When did we consider y'all a stranger as well as invite you lot inwards, or needing clothes likewise clothe yous?When did nosotros encounter you sick or inwards prison house menage as good as move to see y'all?’

“The King volition reply, ‘Truly I enjoin yous, whatever yous did for i of the to the lowest degree of these brothers as good as sisters of mine, you lot did for me.’

“Then he testament tell to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you lot who are cursed, into the eternal burn downwardly downwardly prepared for the devil in summation to his angels. For I was hungry as good as you lot gave me zippo to eat, I was thirsty as good as you gave me zero to drinkable, I was a stranger besides yous did not invite me in, I needed clothes too you did not clothe me, I was sick in addition to inwards prison theater together with you did non seem afterward me.’

“They also will respond, ‘Lord, when did nosotros run across you lot hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, together with did non assist you?’

“He testament reply, ‘Truly I tell yous, whatever yous did non do for ane of the to the lowest degree of these, you lot did not do for me.’

“Then they testament locomote away to eternal penalisation, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:34-46 NIV)

Specific Commands from Jesus as well as His Word

Here are iii specific commands from Jesus in add-on to His Word. One to the rich immature ruler wondering what his life lacked in improver to the others to to a greater extent full general audiences of followers:

“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure inwards sky. Then come, follow me.” When the swain heard this, he went away distressing, because he had slap-upward wealth. (Matthew xix:20-22 NIV)

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do non invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if y'all do, they may invite you dorsum too therefore you lot testament be repaid. But when yous give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, together with you lot volition final blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you lot volition go repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke fourteen:12-xiv NIV)

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be inward that soul? Dear children, permit us non dearest alongside words or speech communication but with actions in improver to inwards truth. (1 John 3:17-eighteen NIV)

While the start is a specific command to an someone, the principles apply to all of Christ’s followers, which is that nosotros must give generously to the poor, inward improver to that when nosotros do, it’s an eternal investment. Luke 14:12-xiv clearly shares Jesus’ middle toward the poor besides needy besides is a specific command to His followers to final intentional most reaching out as well as providing for them. The passage inwards 1 John is a clear alert to those who state they are Christ’s followers but the actions don’t align with their proclaimed organized faith. In this verse, we are compelled to furnish for those inward demand.

How john we aid the materially poor?

After exactly a brief review of Scripture it becomes rattling clear that nosotros are commanded to assist the poor. God demonstrates His pump for the poor in addition to needy past times His ain illustration, through His promises for those who do, too through His perfect judgments for those who don’t. But how does 1 give to the poor effectively? Here are iv suggestions:

1. Give strategically through a trusted ministry building or foundation.

You can effectively give your time and talents to the poor by supporting a local rescue mission or community organization that is trusted and has a proven track record helping the poor and needy. Knowing how to choice out the best charities is important. If your church building has a straight ministry to the poor as good as needy, this is a bang-upwardly starting location!

2. Give strategically yesteryear giving to a greater extent than money.

Effective long-term support of the poor and needy typically requires more than money. For the poor and needy who are mentally and physically able to recover, I encourage readers to plug in with respected and trusted ministries and community organizations to give by sharing practical skills, such as job/vocational skills, budgeting, as well as basic life skills that testament effectively empower those inward demand for long-term recovery.

3. Give spontaneously too cheerfully.

I’m often asked, “Should I give to the beggar on the street corner?” Many are rightfully skeptical due to recent scandals of pan handlers who are not truly in need. My advice is to listen to the Holy Spirit. If you sense a burden or call to give, then give cheerfully and obediently. If you don’t, then don’t give. If your motive is pure, you will never regret a decision to give. Now this advice can only be successful if you lot are asking God also listening to Him.

4. Get equipped.

I recommend two books that will equip you with how to effectively help the poor. The first is When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . inwards add-on to Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. A second resource is titled, Giving Wisely past Jonathan Martin.

How almost you? Have you lot establish an effective way to help the poor that would equip other readers? Share whatever lessons you learned as good!