This is a true story. A sad story. I know the people involved. There was a church member who lost her job and faced homelessness. Another member asked the pastor if the church could give her some money. But the pastor refused saying, “No. If we start giving to the poor, we will have a line of 200 people with their hands out.” She was a long-time church member, not a stranger. That pastor ignored over 80 Bible scriptures.
Yes, that’s right. The Bible contains over 80 verses encouraging us to give to the poor. The Bible says, “in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” You now have 80 witnesses. I have listed them for you below.
First, reasons people use not to give:
- “Spiritual needs are more important than physical needs.” While this is true, it doesn’t give us permission to ignore 80 verses in the Bible.
- “The government has programs for the poor.” Where is that in the Bible?
- “If they worked harder or managed their money better, they wouldn’t be poor.” This could go either way. Yes, you need not help the foolish. However, the Bible never says to judge the poor. It says to help them. You don’t know the details of their struggles in life.
- “If they just have enough faith, God would help them.” My grandmother told the story of having no food in the house when she was ten. Her father told her not to worry but to trust God. They did, and a short time later, a woman knocked on the door and gave them a cake. Did you notice that? A woman brought a cake. A human woman, not an angel. If she had been someone who didn’t believe in giving to the poor, my grandmother would have gone hungry and would have had less reason to have faith in God.
Second, reasons God says not to give:
- If someone is capable of working but decides not to do so. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “…if any would not work, neither should he eat.”
- If the poor have other alternatives. In 1 Timothy 5, Paul says if widows have families to care for them, the church is not obligated to take them in.
- If you think they will spend your money on drugs or alcohol. Eph 5:11 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness…”
- Let me know if you know of any more. I genuinely want to be accurate, so please let me know.
The Bible doesn’t say you must give to every single poor person. It just says to give. How often do you give?
Next, here are the 80+ verses I promised you:
I put them in reverse chronological order. The Bible verses are in italics, and my words are in regular font. Warning: There are a lot of Bible verses, so be prepared to read for a while.
The epistles:
1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
James 2: 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, “Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;” notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. (James needed a great example of good works. Of all the GOOD things a person could do in this life, James felt giving to the poor was the best example.)
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (Pure religion has two requirements: helping the less privileged and being good.)
Hebrews 13:16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. The same verse in the NIV says: And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices, God is pleased. (Like James said, help and be good.)
1 Timothy 6:17-19 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. (His main requirements for rich Christians: do good and be generous. As James said.)
1 Timothy 5:16 If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. (Much of this chapter is about who should care for the poor widows. First, family members help. Then, the church. Ignoring poor widows was not an option.)
Ephesians 4:28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Galatians 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. (Giving to the poor was the only special command the apostles asked of Paul and Barnabas. Paul said he was eager to do this, showing it was important to them. Is it still important to Apostolics?)
2 Corinthians 9:7 God loveth a cheerful giver. (In the context that it was written, Paul talked about giving to the poor. This verse is often misquoted in encouraging people to give in the offering. Indeed, we should cheerfully give our tithes and offerings, but in the context that it was written, Paul intended this to be our attitude in giving to the poor.)
2 Corinthians 9. (This whole chapter is about giving to the poor.) For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you: 2 For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago, and your zeal hath provoked very many. 3 Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready: 4 Lest haply if they of Macedonia come with me, and find you unprepared, we (that we say not, ye) should be ashamed in this same confident boasting. 5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty, whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness. 6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly, and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; 13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; 14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you. 15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
1 Corinthians 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (Love is the most important thing. But giving to the poor was an example of something as righteous as being a martyr. At least, I think that “giving my body to be burned” means being a martyr.)
Romans 15: 25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem. (Paul went to Jerusalem with the purpose of giving to the poor. Churches in two places also sent an offering to the poor.)
Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Romans 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. (I believe “showing mercy” means giving to the poor,” and he said to do it cheerfully.)
Acts 24:17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. (Paul’s reason for going to Jerusalem was to give to the poor and the church.)
Acts 20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
Acts 10:31 And said, “Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.” (The definition of “alms” means giving to the poor.)
Acts 10:4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said unto him, “Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.”
Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did. (Not a command for us, but she was praised for her giving to the poor – alms. Giving to the poor was an essential virtue in the original apostolic church.)
Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (sharing with anyone who had needs) 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.
The Gospels:
John 13:29 For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor. (The fact that they thought he was giving to the poor shows that Jesus commonly did that with their money.)
John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence and given to the poor? (This implies that giving to the poor was normal for Jesus.)
Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. (What righteous things did Zacchaeus choose to do to show he had repented?)
Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.
Luke 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:
Luke 12:33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (The definition of “alms” is giving to the poor.)
Luke 11:41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
Luke 10:25 Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 27 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul and with all thy strength and with all thy mind and love thy neighbor as thyself. 28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right. This do and thou shalt live. 29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? … 34 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out the two pence, and gave them to the house, and said unto him, Take care of him, and whatsoever thou spendeth more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 35 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? (Helping with others’ needs is the second most important commandment.)
Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (The context doesn’t say if this is given to the church, the poor, or others.)
Luke 6:30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.
Luke 3:10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? 11 He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. (These were John’s commands to the people to show their repentance.)
Mark 14:5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her. (This statement implies that giving to the poor was normal for Jesus. Shouldn’t we be like Jesus?)
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Matthew 26:9 For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor. (This statement implies that giving to the poor was something that Jesus did.)
Matthew 25:31 (Are you a sheep or a goat?) When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Matthew 19:21 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.
Matthew 10:42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
Matthew 6:1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. (It says “when” you do alms. Not “if.”)
Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
The Old Testament:
Daniel 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.(Like what James said. Pure religion is doing good and helping the poor.)
Ezekiel 18:5-9 But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right… hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment… Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord God. (There are many verses in the prophets where God is describing good Israelites vs. bad Israelites. Giving to the poor is often in His list. I chose not to search out all these verses.)
Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. (“Relieve” may mean give money to them, or it more likely means all kinds of help.)
Esther 9:22 As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
Proverbs 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
Proverbs 29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Proverbs 21:26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
Proverbs 21:13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 17:5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. (When people judge the poor and say they should have more faith, or work harder, or make better spending decisions, is this mocking the poor? I’m not sure, but it might be.)
Proverbs 14: 21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Proverbs 11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
Psalm 112:9 They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.
Psalm 82:3 Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.
Psalm 15:5 who lends money to the poor without interest; who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken.
Job 31:16 “If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, 17 if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless— 18 but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow— 19 if I have seen anyone perishing for lack of clothing, or the needy without garments, 20 and their hearts did not bless me for warming them with the fleece from my sheep, 21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court, 22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. (Job is defending his righteousness. Job thought this should happen to himself if he didn’t help the poor. Verse 40 is the end of Job’s words. This chapter is Job’s summary and conclusions about his life.)
Job 30:25 Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my soul grieved for the poor?
Job 29:12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. (Job was listing reasons he was righteous.)
Job 20:10 His children shall seek to please the poor, and his hands shall restore their goods.
Deuteronomy 26:12 – When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year, which is the year of tithing, and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled. (Part of the tithe went to the poor.)
Deuteronomy 15:10 Thou shalt surely give him (the poor man), and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
Deuteronomy 15:7 If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: 8 But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.
Deuteronomy 14:29 so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.
Leviticus 25:35 And if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger or a sojourner; that he may live with thee.
Leviticus 19:10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.
Exodus 23:11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy olive yard.
Last Thoughts:
We don’t obey the Old Testament law, but its principles, types, and shadows tell us what God values and how he wants us to live. His values are the same today, yesterday, and forever.
There are also many verses that say God blesses and cares for the poor, but I didn’t include those here. I just listed what God requests of us.
One more thought: While reading the Old Testament, you will notice that one of the most common sins of Israel condemned by the prophets was oppressing the poor or not defending the cause of the poor. Out of all their sins, this one bothered God a lot. It’s right up there just under worshipping other gods.
A Challenge: I have never heard a whole sermon on this subject. If you are a preacher and made it to the end of this article, I challenge you to preach it sometime. Let me know how it goes.
The Bible says to give. Give to the church, AND give to the poor. And God will bless you for both!
