Although poverty can never be totally eliminated from this sinful world, it can be alleviated. Scripture provides guidance concerning how this may be done.
Poverty will always exist in this world
Matthew 26:11 parallel John 12:8 See also Deuteronomy 15:11
The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have Me.
God's concern over poverty
God cares for the poor
Psalm 35:10, Psalm 68:10 See also Deuteronomy 15:4–5; Job 5:16; Psalm 14:6, Psalm 113:7, Psalm 140:12; Isaiah 25:4
All my bones will exclaim, “Who is like You, O LORD, who delivers the afflicted from the aggressor, the poor and needy from the robber?”
Your flock settled therein; O God, from Your bounty You provided for the poor.
The law made concessions for poverty
Leviticus 5:7, Leviticus 5:11, Leviticus 12:8, Leviticus 14:21–22, Leviticus 27:8
God judges those who oppress the poor
The poor should be encouraged to help themselves
Mosaic law enabled the poor to help themselves
Exodus 23:11; Leviticus 19:10, Leviticus 23:22, Leviticus 25:25, Leviticus 25:28, Leviticus 25:39, Leviticus 25:41 The jubilee helped towards release from the poverty trap; Deuteronomy 23:25
Paul exhorts the poor to work
1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Paul sets the poor an example
Acts 20:34; 1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:8
The relatives of the poor should help
1 Timothy 5:4 See also Genesis 45:9–11; Leviticus 25:25; 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Timothy 5:16
But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
Those better off should help the poor
The poor can be helped by means of gifts
Acts 10:4 See also Deuteronomy 15:7–8; Psalm 112:9; Proverbs 31:20; Matthew 19:21 parallels Mark 10:21, Luke 18:22; Luke 19:8; Acts 9:36; Ephesians 4:28; 1 Timothy 6:17–18
Cornelius stared at him in fear and asked, “What is it, Lord?” The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have ascended as a memorial offering before God.
The poor can be helped in practical ways
Matthew 25:34–40; Luke 11:41, Luke 14:13; Acts 9:36, Acts 9:39; 1 Timothy 5:9–10; James 2:15–16; 1 John 3:17
The poor can be helped by others upholding justice
Psalm 82:3 See also Deuteronomy 24:12–15; Proverbs 22:22, Proverbs 29:7, Proverbs 29:14, Proverbs 31:9; Isaiah 10:1–2; Jeremiah 22:16
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; uphold the rights of the afflicted and oppressed.
The church should help the poor
Galatians 2:10 See also Acts 24:17; Romans 15:26; 1 Timothy 5:16
They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
God's greatest gift to the poor is the good news of Jesus Christ
Luke 4:18 See also Isaiah 61:1; Matthew 11:5 parallel Luke 7:22; Luke 14:21 Scripture regards spiritual and social welfare as closely connected.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.