What’S The Best Way To Help The Poor?

What is the best way to help the poor? At starting time blush, this enquiry mightiness seem similar a no-brainer to readers.

But, who are the poor? What does God’s Word province around the poor? How do we effectively assist the poor? Let’s dig inward!

Who are the poor?

Because all of us come upwardly from unlike backgrounds, cultures, together with expectations, what we define every bit poor, may non really locomote poor to others or flush inward God’s eyes.

Determining who the poor really are bathroom get down a rattling subjective exercise. To foreclose that we must start out-move institute a usual agreement of whom the poor are every fleck presented inwards 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 more than than severe implications important reduced to beggary, destitute of wealth, influence, topographic point, award, lowly, afflicted, helpless, powerless to accomplish an destination, lacking inward anything.

John MacArthur writes, “The tidings commonly used for ordinary poverty was penichros, as good as is used of the widow Jesus saw giving an offering inwards the Temple. She had very footling, but she did have got got ii little copper coins (encounter Luke 21:2). She was poor but not a beggar. One who is penichros poor has at to the lowest degree some meager resources. One who is ptōchos poor, nonetheless, is completely dependent on others for sustenance. He has absolutely no way of self-back upwardly.”

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

Two Kinds of Poverty

The New Testament describes ii kinds of ptōchos poverty:

1. Materially Poor – But when you lot give to the needy, do non allow your left manus know what your correct manus is doing, . . . . (Matthew 6:3 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 as it comes inward the context of a warning from Jesus to non practise acts of righteousness thus that others volition observe.

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

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

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

To concur this article focused together with brief, we volition focus on the materially poor.

What the Scriptures Reveal nigh God inwards improver to Poverty

There are many Scriptures that address the God’s optic for together with perspective of the poor but I withdraw maintain selected merely a few to aid us push clitoris clitoris a conclusion to the bailiwick research:

Giving together with helping the poor is heart in addition to soul to God’s graphic symbol: 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
as well has them inherit a throne of laurels. “For the foundations of the world are the Lord’s; on them he has set the public.”

Jesus assumes nosotros testament hold upward giving to the poor (notice non “if” but “when”): “So when you give to the needy, do non denote it with trumpets, equally the hypocrites do inwards the synagogues as well on the streets, to live honored by others. Truly I monastic tell you lot, they have got got received their vantage inward full.” (Matthew 6:2 NIV)

True followers of Christ gave to the poor: “But Zacchaeus stood upwardly in addition to said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here together with now I give 1-one-half of my possessions to the poor, as well as if I guide agree cheated anybody out of anything, I testament pay dorsum iv times the amount.” (Luke xix:8 NIV) Paul was eager to give as well: “All they asked was that we should proceed to remember the poor, the rattling thing I had been eager to do all along.” (Galatians 2:10 NIV)

When we 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 twelvemonth’s create as well as shop it inward your towns, so that the Levites (who bear agree no resource allotment or inheritance of their direct hold) together with the foreigners, the fatherless inward add-on to the widows who endure inward your towns may come besides swallow and be satisfied, as well as thence that the Lord your God may bless yous inwards all the slice of function of your hands.” (Deuteronomy 14:28-29 NIV)

Not helping the poor was ground for judgment in the past times: “ ‘Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She also her daughters were arrogant, overfed in plus to unconcerned; they did non assist the poor inwards add-on to needy.” (Ezekiel xvi:49 NIV)

It volition be a topic at the hereafter 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 volition reply him, ‘Lord, when did we come upward across you hungry together with feed you lot, or thirsty likewise give you lot something to quaff? When did we run into yous a stranger together with invite yous inwards, or needing clothes as well as clothe you?When did nosotros encounter yous sick or inward prison house menage as well move to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I enjoin y'all, whatever you lot did for 1 of the least of these brothers together with sisters of mine, y'all did for me.’

“Then he testament solid ground to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal opened burn downwards prepared for the devil together with his angels. For I was hungry as good as you lot gave me zero to swallow, I was thirsty too you lot gave me zippo to drinkable, I was a stranger as good as you lot did non invite me inwards, I needed clothes together with yous did non clothe me, I was sick as good as inward prison house inwards add-on to y'all did not face upwardly after me.’

“They also testament response, ‘Lord, when did we come across y'all hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or inwards prison, together with did not assist you lot?’

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

“Then they will displace away to eternal penalty, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25:34-46 NIV)

Specific Commands from Jesus as good as His Word

Here are iii specific commands from Jesus together with His Word. One to the rich immature ruler wondering what his life lacked as well as the others to to a greater extent than 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 in sky. Then come, follow me.” When the young human being heard this, he went away sad, because he had nifty wealth. (Matthew nineteen:twenty-22 NIV)

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you lot give a luncheon or dinner, do non invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if yous do, they may invite you back as well as therefore you volition last repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, together with you lot volition concur out blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you lot testament hold up repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:12-xiv NIV)

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the honey of God move inward that someone? Dear children, permit us non dearest alongside words or voice communication but alongside actions in addition to inward truth. (1 John 3:17-xviii NIV)

While the kickoff is a specific ascendency to an individual, the principles apply to all of Christ’s followers, which is that nosotros must give generously to the poor, inwards plus to that when we do, it’s an eternal investment. Luke 14:12-xiv clearly shares Jesus’ midpoint toward the poor in addition to needy in addition to is a specific command to His followers to be intentional nigh reaching out too providing for them. The passage inward 1 John is a clear warning to those who tell they are Christ’s followers but the actions don’t align with their proclaimed religion. In this verse, nosotros are compelled to supply for those inwards demand.

How john we help the materially poor?

After simply a brief review of Scripture it becomes existent clear that nosotros are commanded to aid the poor. God demonstrates His centre for the poor as well as needy past times His ain instance, through His promises for those who do, also through His perfect judgments for those who don’t. But how does ane give to the poor effectively? Here are iv suggestions:

1. Give strategically through a trusted ministry building edifice 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 selection out the best charities is important. If your church building has a straight ministry edifice to the poor as well as needy, this is a keen starting theater!

2. Give strategically by giving to a greater extent than 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, in addition to basic life skills that volition effectively empower those in demand for long-term recovery.

3. Give spontaneously as good 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 betoken God inwards summation to 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 . . . together with Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. A second resource is titled, Giving Wisely past Jonathan Martin.

How skillful-nigh yous? Have you plant life an effective way to deal the poor that would equip other readers? Share whatever lessons you learned equally skillful!