Correcting Our Thinking
The humble truth is that we don’t know the mind of God beyond what He reveals to us, so what has He revealed?
All are called to care for, give aid to, and fairly judge the poor with compassion. Scripture calls for the poor to receive justice, suggesting that poverty is an injustice and the product of oppression (Psalm 140:12; Ezekiel 22:29).
Poverty is not a punishment from God for sin, or something that God delights in- it’s the result of sinful oppression, injustice, and greed in our world- broken systems made by men.
God’s heart for the needy
God desires justice for poor and rich alike (Exodus 23:6; Psalm 82:3) and His law required provision for the poor (Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 19:10; Leviticus 23:22; Zechariah 7:10). It pleases God to see the poor cared for (Deuteronomy 15:10-11; Proverbs 19:17).
The poor are deserving of honor as people (1 Samuel 2:8; Psalm 113:7-8) and are blessed as they realize their need for God (Matthew 5:3). God is the refuge of the poor (Isaiah 25:4) and desires their rescue from danger (Psalm 72:12). God desires all to be rich in faith, no matter their material wealth (James 2:5).
Those who serve the poor are rewarded (2 Corinthians 9:9), and those that ignore them are ignored by God (Proverbs 21:13).
Why are some poor?
If you’re reading this because of the needs you have, let us tell you of God’s compassion for you. God didn’t make you to suffer in desperation, but to know and delight in His love for you. Don’t be ashamed to have troubles, trust that you are designed out of God’s love.
There are realities in our world that God isn’t pleased by. He can receive glory from any situation, but that doesn’t mean He takes pleasure in suffering or turns a blind eye to it. He promises to wipe every tear from the eyes of believers, and He will eventually bring justice.
Jesus wasn’t a man of great wealth; He trusted God and those who love God to provide for His needs. We are all called to provide for others out of what we’ve been given. Jesus modeled this in both His giving and receiving, and He honored God with His faith.
Reminders
For the poor: look to church and community to bear burdens with you (Galatians 6:2).
Nobody is to be alone in their sufferings. This doesn’t just mean that we have God with us, but we are called to be with others in their burdens, helping them to bear up under it. If you are struggling financially, be encouraged that you are not asked to be alone in this.
For the wealthy: everything you have is a gift from God; remember to serve others with your gifts (1 Peter 4:10).
God intends us to serve one another with the gifts we have, so all are responsible to use what they have for good works. This is because we are created in Christ to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). Those that have much and do not feel called to use it for the good of others are missing the heart of Christ.
Service to the needy is service to Christ (Matthew 25:40).
All of us will have needs throughout our life, and it is no shame to have needs. Our needs point us to rely on Christ, and that reliance becomes spiritual riches that matter greatly in the Kingdom of Heaven. Serve those with needs around you and trust God to provide as you receive out of the abundance of good gifts He has given to you and those around you.
At BridgeBuilders, we strive to avoid language that reduces people to a single aspect of their lives, recognizing that no one is defined by any one characteristic. However, in this blog, we have used the terms 'poor' and 'wealthy' to maintain continuity with scripture. These terms are not meant to categorize, but to reflect the broader context in which they are used in biblical teachings.