The Poor

THE POOR

Poor may be literally defined as Lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society. Other terms are: poverty-stricken · impoverished · necessitous · beggarly · in penury, deficient in · lacking (in) · wanting (in) · short of/on · low on · missing · with an insufficiency of · with too few/little …considered to be deserving of pity or sympathy.

From times of old God gave instructions concerning care of the weak and poor in society.

Exodus 23:11 “But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy oliveyard.”

Leviticus 23:22 “And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.”

God’s sympathy lies not so much with those getting along well or very well but, rather, with the poor and downcast.

1 Samuel 2:8 “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory:...”

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 19: 16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life. (Mark 10:2 “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Mark 12:42 “And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. Mark 12:43 “And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:”

Mark 14:7 “For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

Watching after the pooris insufficient within itself to meet God’s requirements. Providers must first become children of God. Then the obligation begins. Charity with love prophets Christians greatly in Love from God and with His care and blessings.

1 Corinthians 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing..”(James 2:) 1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

2 Corinthians 8: 9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 10 And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 11 Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.”

Proverbs 22:9 - He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.12 For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. (Proverbs 19:17) He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

Acts 20:35 “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Matthew 5:42) “Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”

God said let there be love and there was Love and it was good. Out of Love the Christian gives their tithes and supports, so much as is within their power, the poor around them. Let your light shine wherever wou are. Know God, know peace. Amen 02-24-2020 BLL