Jesus said … “When you prepare a dinner or a supper, do not call … your kinsmen or your rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return, and you be repaid. But when you prepare a banquet, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, for they cannot repay you. You shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just (Luke 14:12-14).” Remember the poor and needy. What does the Bible say about helping the poor? Let’s discuss this question.
The Disadvantaged and Needy
From the beginning of its pages, the Bible championed the disadvantaged. In God’s book, the victory doesn’t always go to the strong. It emphasizes that salvation doesn’t depend on our personal strength or virtue — it depends on Jesus’ — the scripture often teaches the opposite.
David defeated Goliath (1 Samuel 17:41-52).
The Jews left their slavery in Egypt (Exodus 14).
While God’s lone prophet, Elijah, defeated four hundred prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:16-40).
The Poor and Humble Hear God’s Call
God calls more of the downcast and more of them answer God’s call to salvation:
“For observe your calling, brothers. Among you, not many wise men according to the flesh … mighty men, (nor) noble men were called” (1 Corinthians 1:26).
God Calls Us to Help the Poor and Needy of the World
Yet the poor suffer more in this world, and God asks us to help them. God identifies with them and we’re asked to see God in them:
“He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will repay what he has given” (Proverbs 19:17).
The Turning Point
Before Jesus started His ministry, the Jews were God’s people. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). But during Jesus’ ministry, He transitioned away from that exclusive message and ensured it included the Gentiles.
The Gentiles
The Apostle Paul was appointed the Apostle to the Gentiles, and traveled to Gentile lands to preach the gospel (Galatians 2:8); meanwhile, the other apostles remained in Jerusalem, and as Jews continued to live a Jewish lifestyle (Galatians 2:1-2).
The Gospel
Since the Jews lived their salvation lifestyle by distinct (kosher) rules like circumcision and abstaining from unclean foods, some brethren taught that the converted Gentiles had to live by Jewish practices. Paul disagreed, leading him to meet with his fellow apostles to ensure they all agreed on the gospel message
“I went up again to Jerusalem … in response to a revelation and communicated to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles” (Galatians 2:1-2)
The Agreement
The apostles in Jerusalem approved Paul’s teaching that the believing Gentiles weren’t required to live by the Jewish rules (Galatians 2:3-9). They agreed that wasn’t part of the gospel message of salvation apart from the Jewish Law or any works.
The Appeal
But, significantly, though it wasn’t part of the gospel message, so it wasn’t required for salvation, the Jerusalem apostles did ask Paul to include something they thought necessary:“Only they requested that we should remember the poor, which I also was eager to do” (Galatians 2:6-10).
Though remembering the poor isn’t a part of the gospel and isn’t required for a person to go to heaven, the apostles thought it was important enough to mention it wherever we preach the gospel.
Remember the Poor and Needy
“Blessed are those who consider the poor; the Lord will deliver them in the day of trouble” (Psalm 41:1).
