The Poor, and
Our Duty Toward Them
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The Right
Attitude Toward the Poor
What is God’s
attitude toward the poor?
“For he will
deliver the needy who cry out,
the afflicted who have no one to
help.”
Psalm 72:12.
For what purpose
did Christ say God had anointed Him?
“The Spirit of
the Lord is on me, because he has
anointed me to preach the
good news to the poor. He
has sent me to proclaim freedom
for the prisoners and recovery of
sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed, to proclaim the year of
the Lord’s favor.”
Luke 4:18.
When did He say we
could minister to the poor?
“The poor you
will always have with you, and you
can help them any time you want.
But you will not always have
me.” Mark 14:7.
What classes are we
especially enjoined to help?
“Learn to do what
is right! Seek justice encourage
the oppressed. Defend the cause of
the fatherless, plead the case of the
widow.” Isaiah 1:17.
How did the
patriarch Job treat the poor?
“I was a
father to the needy; I took up
the case of the stranger.”
Job 29:16.
The
Relation of the True Religion to
Charity
What is pure and
undefiled religion declared to be?
“The religion
that God our Father accepts as pure
and faultless is this: to look
after orphans and widows in their
distress and to keep oneself from
being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27.
What kind of fast
is most acceptable to God?
“Is this not the
kind of fasting I have chosen: to
lose the chains of injustice and
untie the cords of the yoke, so set
the oppressed free and break every
yoke? Is it not to share your food
with the hungry and to provide for
the poor wanderer with shelter –
when you see the naked, to clothe
him, and turn not away from your own
flesh and blood?”
Isaiah 58:6,7.
How
does the Lord regard kindness shown
to the poor?
“He who is kind
to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will reward him for what he
has done.” Proverbs 19:17.
“God is not unjust; he will
not forget your work and the love you
have shown him as you have helped his
people continue to help them.”
Hebrews 6:10.
Fate
and Reward
What fate awaits
those who turn a deaf ear to the
poor?
“If a man shuts
his ears to the cry of the poor, he
too will cry out and not be answered.”
Proverbs 21:13.
What
promises are made to those who
consider the poor?
“Blessed is he
who has regard for the weak; the Lord
delivers him in times of trouble. The
Lord will protect him and preserve
his life; he will bless him in the
land and not surrender him to the
desires of his foes. The Lord will
sustain him on his sickbed and
restore him from his bed of
illness.” Psalm 41:1-3.
What
is promised those who do this work?
“The you will
call, and the Lord will answer; you
will cry for help, and he will say:
Here am I. :If you do away with the
yoke of oppression, with the pointing
finger and malicious talk, and if you
spend yourselves in behalf of the
hungry and satisfy the needs of the
oppressed, then your light will rise
in the darkness, and your night will
become like the noonday. The Lord
will guide you always; he will
satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched
land and will strengthen your frame.
You will become like a well-watered
garden, like a spring whose waters
never fail.” Isaiah 58:9-11.
What did Christ
tell the rich young man to do?
“Jesus answered, “If
you want to be perfect, go,
sell your possessions and give to the
poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven. Then come, follow
me.” Matthew 19:21.
Note – From
Matthew 25:31-45, we learn that
Christ identifies Himself with needy,
suffering humanity; and that any
neglect shown them He regards as done
unto Himself, and any service
rendered to them as though done for
Him. We are not saved because we help
the needy; but if we experience the
salvation of Christ, we will love the
unfortunate. This is a test of the
genuineness of our profession.
The
Good, the Rich, and the Poor
What
was the character of Christ’s
work among men?
“He went
around doing good and healing all
who were under the power of the
devil, because God was with
him.” Acts 10:38.
What
will His true followers do?
“Whoever claims
to live in him must walk as Jesus
did.” 1 John 2:6.
In
ministering to the needy, whom are we
really serving?
“The King will
reply, ‘I tell you the truth,
whatever you have did for one of the
least of these brothers of mine, you
did it for me.’”
Matthew 25:40
How long will there
be poor in the world?
“The
poor you will always have with you,
but you will not always have
me.”
Matthew
26:11.
What relation do
all sustain to God?
“Rich and poor have
this in common: The Lord is Maker of
them all.” Proverbs 22:2.
Whom
to Help and How
What classes are
subjects for Christian help work?
“Religion that
God our Father accepts as pure and
faultless is this: to look after
the orphans and widows in their
distress and to keep oneself from
being polluted by the world.”
James 1:27.
How
did Job learn of the needs of the
poor?
“I was the father
to the needy; I took up the case
of the stranger.” Job
29:16.
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