What Does the Bible Say About Giving to the Poor?

Many people wonder what the Bible says about giving to the poor. The Bible is clear that God expects His followers to give to the poor. The Bible includes giving money, food, clothing, respect and justice as part of the mandate for giving to the poor. God cares deeply about the poor, and He expects the poor to be provided for.

History

In Biblical times, those most likely to be poor were widows, orphans and aliens. The Bible mentions the responsibility of God's people to care for the widow and the orphan (or fatherless) almost 30 times. The Bible also includes multiples references for caring for the alien. The Book of Ruth highlights putting into practice the ways in which the Bible charged God's people to give to the poor.

Significance

In the Bible, numerous Jewish laws cover protecting and giving to the poor. In the books of the Bible that explain Jewish law (Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy), provisions for the poor are included 19 times. The Bible set up ways to provide for the poor, such as not harvesting every stalk so that the poor had a way to gather food for themselves. The Book of Ruth shows the harvesting laws put into practice.

Benefits

The Bible includes passages explaining that God will bless those who give to the poor. In Proverbs 28:27, the Bible says that "He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses." In Luke 14:12-14, Jesus advised hosts to invite the poor to their banquets because then God would bless them. Although the poor cannot repay the host, God will repay the host "at the resurrection of the righteous."

Warning

The Bible is clear that God will pass judgment on those who fail to give to the poor. The Bible specifically mentions how strongly God feels about oppressing the widows, orphans and aliens in Malachi 3:5. Jesus reiterated that God would judge those who failed to feed the hungry, provide clothes and meet other basic needs of the poor in his parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46.

Considerations

Giving to the poor goes beyond monetary donations. The Bible says we should also give the poor respect and justice. The Bible speaks out against showing favoritism to the rich. In James 2:5, the Bible asks, "Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" The Bible also warns against denying justice to the poor in Exodus 23:6.

Resources

• Parable of the Sheep and the Goats
• Book of Ruth