As believers, we have a responsibility to care for
those who have been left without a bread winner, which
begins with the responsibility of caring for our own
family and relatives who may be in distress.
1 Timothy 5:8 But if any provide not for his own, and
specially for those of his own house, he hath denied
the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
An infidel is a person who does not even acknowledge
God. So what does that say about someone who doesn't
take care of his own family in need?
Helping the poor and needy is the only Christ like
response there is in dealing with widows and orphans
and people that are tragically left without a bread
winner.
James 1:27 "Pure and undefiled religion before God and
the father is this; to visit orphans and widows in
their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the
world".
God is deeply concerned that the poor and needy
receive justice and deliverance. This should be high
on the agenda for anyone seeking to honor God and
receive His divine blessings.
Psalms 41:1 "Blessed is he who considers the poor, The
Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord
will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be
blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the
will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him on
his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his
sickbed".
The above scripture is one of more than twenty five
times in which psalms mention "the poor" , usually
either in terms of what the wicked are doing to them
or what God is doing for them.
So to be on the side of God is to take up the cause of
the poor and oppressed.
Helping the poor has to do with one's responsibilities
toward upholding the weak and disadvantageed.
Wherever scripture raises this issue, it challenges us
to share at least some of our material wealth with
people in desperate need.
Exodus 22:25-27 "If you lend money to any of My people
who are poor among you, you shall not be like a money
lender to him; you shall not charge him interest".
Whatever charity we show to the poor will be repaid,
not necessarily by the poor, but by the Lord because
the Lord assumes the debt.
God is aware of what we do and because of that we
never really "waste" our charity, even if the person
who receives it turns out to be deceptive, God still
makes it right. The poor person will have to answer
for how he uses the resources God brings into his
life.
Likewise, we must answer for how we have used the
resources God brings our way, and in most cases God
wants us to use at least part of those resources to
assist the poor.
Those that honor God show mercy to the weak and
disadvantaged, Yet In contrast those that depart from
Godly ways abuse and manipulate the poor.
So part of our responsibility as Christians involves
seeing that the poor benefit from truth and justice,
by demonstrating that commitment at our jobs and
communities.
Proverbs 11:24-25 "There is one who scatters, yet
increases more; and there is one who withholds more
than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous
soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be
watered himself".
God also condemns favoritism toward the rich and
discrimination towards the poor. This includes
treating rich people better than poor people based on
their socioeconomic status.
Exodus 22:22-24 You shall not afflict any widow or
fatherless child. If you afflict them in any way, and
they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry; and
My wrath will become hot, and I will kill you with the
sword; your wives shall be widows, and your children
fatherless.
So in conclusion to take up this righteous cause of
God you must provide for the needs of your family. (1
Tim. 5:8). Visit orphans and widows in their trouble.
(Jam. 1:27). Don't be like a money lender to the poor
(Ex. 22:25-27), and not afflict any widow or
fatherless child. (Ex. 22:22-24).
David Hopkins is a "Christian Article Writer" who
specializes in helping people remember to glorify
God in everything that they do, so they don't miss
out on any of His wonderful blessings.
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