Recently I was sitting at a traffic light when I noticed an underprivileged woman on the corner holding a sign that read, “Anything helps. God Bless.” Because I was out of granola bars, I reached for a dollar in my wallet. When I rolled down my window, she flashed a smile of appreciation. As I handed her the dollar, I shared my standard pitch, “This dollar is not from me, but from Jesus. I hope you will spend it wisely.” Without skipping a beat she said, “Jesus is my Savior, and I am saving these dollars to pay next month’s rent.”

Photo Courtesy @ IStockphoto.com/eyecrave

I don’t profess to be an expert on ministering to the poor. I struggle with how to help them effectively as much as the next person. As Christians, I doubt we disagree about our duty to assist the poor, but how we go about it is another matter. Giving to the poor is part of my living giving vision.

Graphic Courtesy of Chelly Drake

I offer three biblical reasons why our living giving plan should include the poor.

#1: God said so.

“Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 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.      — Deuteronomy 24:10-11

Throughout the New Testament, you will find passages in which God places high value on the poor.  Examples include “remember the poor,” and Tabitha “was always doing good and helping the poor,” and Cornelius “was God-fearing and gave generously to those in need.”

#2: Jesus expects us to remember how merciful He was to us, which should motivate us to be merciful to those in need without judging them. 

Luke 6:27-38: Jesus teaches us how to love the unlovable, i.e. love your enemies, do good to those who curse or hate you, and lend without expecting repayment. He even says “Give to everyone who asks you.” Why? He gives an admonition, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged.”

Jesus showed us mercy when we deserved to be condemned. When the poor need help, He wants us to demonstrate His mercy and generosity without judgment.

#3: Jesus believes that when we ignore the poor and needy, we have ignored Him. 

Matt 25:34-40: This passage describes Judgment Day. The first three verses describe Jesus affirming the righteous for giving Him food, water, and clothing when He was in need. The last four verses describe the righteous trying to recall when they gave Him these provisions. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Jesus deeply cares for the poor. It is so important to Him, that we will be held accountable for our actions toward the poor on Judgment Day.

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

God expects us to take care of the poor, but I feel challenged by how to do this effectively. Don’t you? How do we give generously in a culture in which we are segregated by socioeconomic classes? How do we reach across those barriers when the primary times we cross paths with the poor are at a signal light or on a mission trip? How do we make meaningful connections with people in need? Moreover, how do we make this a part of our living giving plan?

Here are some opinions I’ve heard among Christians about how or how not to help the poor:

• If we give money to a homeless man, he is going to buy alcohol with it. How is that helping the poor?
• Handing money to a poor person is not solving the problem of poverty. We are rewarding their choice to panhandle.
• Communities have places set up to provide meals and shelter for the poor. We should encourage them to seek assistance there.
• When we give our tithe to the church, a portion of the money is sent to organizations that help the poor. Therefore, I am fulfilling the requirement to help the poor.

None of these points exempt us from looking the other way when a person is asking for help on the corner. When I read a passage from Deuteronomy about being “openhanded” or giving “without a grudging heart,” I can’t ignore my responsibility. Furthermore, if we adopt the premises shared above, we ultimately foster a pattern Jesus doesn’t favor – keeping the poor at a distance.

Of course, how I chose to help the woman on the street corner prevails as the least popular approach among the brethren! I typically have non-perishable food in the car to give away. However, this is the most obvious daily opportunity I have to create a meaningful connection with the poor. And if we are honest, giving a dollar doesn’t make a dent in our wallet when we don’t have food to give away. Why begrudge them? Who are we to judge them?

For those looking for an entry point, let me offer some ideas to help the poor as part of your living giving plan:

• Create a line item in your budget entitled “Helping Those in Need” and determine a set amount to give each budget cycle. Then be intentional by praying for the opportunity to serve the poor directly. Ask the Lord to reveal persons in need so you know who should receive the amount you’ve set aside to give. I have been doing this for the last five years, and it is amazing how God answers this prayer!
• If your church has a ministry to feed the poor, get involved. If not, then meet with the director of your local soup kitchen and volunteer to help serve meals. When you are finished serving the food, then sit at the table with them and make a connection. Learn a little bit of their story, and come back regularly so you can cultivate a relationship with them.

Photo courtesy @Istockphoto.com/jgroup

My friend, Barb, and I did this for over a year in Hutchinson, and five years later, we still share a friendship with a sweet woman named Bessie. She still calls us for prayer support, or when she’s lonely.

Bessie and me at IHOP.

THE REWARD FOR HELPING THE POOR AND NEEDY 

I invite you to implement one of these ideas. Let me encourage you with these passages from Proverbs:

• Prov 19:17 “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.”
• Prov 22:9 “A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.”
• Prov 28:27 “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing.”

Here’s the bonus:God’s living Word is intended to be transformational, not informational. When we act on the information, the poor is blessed, but we are the ones who are transformed! Our hearts grow to be more like Jesus. Because we are made in His image, our generosity to the poor reflects Him. We share His joy when we tangibly make a difference in the life of another. It is my prayer that you will incorporate helping the poor in your living giving plan.

What is your greatest struggle to help the poor in more meaningful ways beyond sending money as a charitable gift? If you are helping the poor that includes connecting with them directly, please share a comment below on how you’re doing it to inspire the rest of us! 

Blessings,

Lee Ann

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