Caring for the Poor

Welfare Sunday

Rev. James Wong

1. The Dilemma of the Poor   

The poor are shunned by their neighbors, friends and relatives. (Proverbs 14:20, 19:4, 19:7). They  are powerless and they have little.

2. God’s law to Protect the Poor

“Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but helping the poor honors him.”

~Prov 14:31 (NLT)

9 "'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord  your God. ~Lev 19:9-10 NIV

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” ~Lev 19:15 (NIV)

3. God’s  Reward for Us in Helping the Poor

God command us to be generous to the poor:  “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.” ~Deut 15:11 (NIV)

God will bless us if we are generous to the poor: “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” ~Prov 22:9 (NIV)

   

God will reward us if we help the poor:  “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord , and he will reward him for what he has done.” ~Prov 19:17 (NIV)

“If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.”

~Prov 21:13 (NIV)

4. What we can do today.   

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.” ~Luke 4:18 (NIV)

   

“If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” ~1 Tim 5:8 (NIV)