If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 1 John 3:17
“God’s Word teaches a very hard, disturbing truth. Those who neglect the poor and the oppressed are really not God’s people at all—no matter how frequently they practice their religious rituals nor how orthodox are their creeds and confessions.” ‘
Ronald J. Sider in Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger: Moving from Affluence to Generosity, revised and updated (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2015) 62.
Someone asked me recently for advice on helping the poor in these crisis times. I said repeatedly that doing nothing is not an option. I also added not to give handouts that create dependencies but a hand up that builds disciples.
Admittedly, I said this in part because of my work with GTP. When we had great need, Jesus did not send help, He came. Then He taught a small group of disciples the way and told them to multiply themselves. Support ministries that do that.
But remember, if you do nothing, it shows there’s no love of God within you. This may be a very hard truth, but it is one we must all ask ourselves, especially in times when the rich have gotten richer and the poor have gotten poorer.