“What should be the Christian response to poverty? Christians look to the Bible for directions and instruction concerning the issues of life. The Word of God is not silent on the issue of poverty, but rather addresses the issue head-on.
The Old Testament teaches that food should be provided for the poor (Exod. 23:11; Lev. 19:9-10). In fact part of the tithe was to be used for this purpose (Deut. 14:28-29). The Old Testament also teaches that those who help the poor will be blessed (Ps. 41:1, KJV; Prov. 14:21; 22:9).
Another Old Testament teaching equates one’s treatment of the poor with one’s treatment of God; the one who oppresses the poor is reproaching God, while the one who is generous to the poor honors God (Prov. 14:31). Also, being kind to the poor is lending to God (Prov. 19:17). Caring for the poor is seen as evidence of righteous living (Ezek. 18:5-9). Also, true fasting and true worship are equated with care for the poor (Isa. 58:5-11; Jer. 7:2-7; Amos 5:21-24).
The Old Testament goes on to teach that if people shut their ears to the cries of the poor, God will shut His ears when these people call on Him (Prov. 21:13). The Scriptures also teach that the righteous are concerned for the rights of the poor, but that the wicked lack such concern (Prov. 29:7).
The prophet Jeremiah condemned God’s people for being fat and well fed but lacking in concern for the poor (5:28). He went on to command the people of God to practice justice and help those being oppressed (22:3) and pronounced a woe on kings who did not pay for labor (22:13-17). Oppression of aliens, orphans, and widows is also condemned by Ezekiel (22:7) and is equated with the sin of adultery by Malachi (3:5).”
“Stephen A. Grunlan, “Economics” in Christian Perspectives on Sociology ed. Stephen A. Grunlan & Milton Reimer (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982) 194.
One of my former students emailed me this week about paper he’s writing on “the poor who are always with us” (cf. Matthew 26:11), so I have been doing some research on the Christian response to poverty. Another Meditations reader asked how to connect the rich and the poor because many rich say they don’t know any poor people.
To write the paper or connect the rich and poor, we must start by opening the Word. The Scriptures reveal who the poor are so we can both see them and know how God wants us to relate to them. Grunlan’s survey of OT themes is not a resource for readers but paints the backdrop for Jesus’ teachings in the NT which we will examine tomorrow.