Topical Bible: Poor: Kindness to Congregations

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The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of showing kindness and compassion to the poor, a theme that is woven throughout both the Old and New Testaments. This entry explores the biblical mandate for kindness to the poor within the context of congregational life, highlighting key scriptural passages and principles.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament lays a strong foundation for caring for the poor, with numerous laws and teachings that instruct the Israelites to provide for those in need. Leviticus 19:9-10 commands, "When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the LORD your God." This directive underscores the principle of leaving provision for the poor, ensuring their sustenance and dignity.

Deuteronomy 15:7-8 further instructs, "If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs." This passage highlights the call to generosity and open-handedness, reflecting God's heart for the poor.

Prophetic Calls to Justice

The prophets frequently called Israel back to the practice of justice and mercy towards the poor. Isaiah 58:6-7 declares, "Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the homeless poor into your home, and to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" The prophetic voice insists that true worship and devotion to God are inseparable from acts of kindness and justice towards the needy.

New Testament Teachings

In the New Testament, Jesus exemplifies and teaches compassion for the poor. In the Sermon on the Mount, He blesses the poor in spirit, promising them the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:3). Jesus' ministry is marked by His care for the marginalized, and He instructs His followers to do likewise. In Matthew 25:35-40 , Jesus identifies Himself with the needy, saying, "For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me." This passage underscores the eternal significance of acts of kindness to the poor.

The early church continued this legacy of care. Acts 2:44-45 describes the early believers: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This communal sharing reflects the deep commitment to meeting the needs of the poor within the congregation.

Apostolic Instructions

The apostles reinforced the call to care for the poor. In Galatians 2:10 , Paul recounts the agreement with the other apostles: "They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." James 1:27 defines pure religion as "to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world." These instructions highlight the ongoing responsibility of the church to prioritize the needs of the poor.

Practical Application in Congregations

The biblical mandate to care for the poor calls congregations to active engagement in acts of kindness and charity. This includes supporting food banks, providing financial assistance, and creating programs that empower the poor to improve their circumstances. By embodying these principles, congregations reflect the love and compassion of Christ, fulfilling the biblical call to kindness towards the poor.

Nave's Topical Index

Acts 6:1
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
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Acts 11:29
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brothers which dwelled in Judaea:
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Romans 15:25,26
But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints.
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2 Corinthians 8:1-4
Moreover, brothers, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
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Library

Acts 17:26 "One Blood. "
... rich to care more for the poor, and the ... wealthy congregations for the working-class
congregations in the ... want is more sympathy, more kindness, more brotherly ...
/.../the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter vi acts 17 26 one.htm

Trumpets and Street Corners
... curdle whole gallons of the milk of human kindness. ... invocation till they are stupefied;
the poor devotee who ... Are there no ministers or congregations that we ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/trumpets and street corners.htm

Family Prayer.
... it is a duty for individuals and congregations to pray ... long existing, the interchange
of kindness long continued ... The prayers of hungry souls and poor, Like armed ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/philips/the christian home/chapter xv family prayer.htm

Old Revival Hymns.
... God lub poor Indian in de wood; So me lub God ... toiling souls of rural evangelists
and their greenwood congregations: ... a song from me: His loving-kindness, oh, how ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter vii old revival hymns.htm

Sad Fasts Changed to Glad Feasts
... take delight in oppressing the poor, and who ... they love righteousness, and learn kindness,
through his ... When churches and congregations sin, God often minishes ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/sad fasts changed to glad.htm

The First Disciples: ii. Simon Peter
... now I can say I love Jesus.' The poor woman's word ... your life and bound nobody to
you by kindness and love ... to some one, or try to do it, our congregations and our ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture i/the first disciples ii simon.htm

The Ministry.
... They told him that they were poor pilgrims going to ... So they thanked him for his kindness,
and went ... in this, to minister ill examples to their congregations. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxii the ministry.htm

Theory of Book I.
... to himself nothing but failure and to the churches and congregations to which ... Often
the truest kindness lies in doing the thing hardest to do and ... He, poor man! ...
//christianbookshelf.org/jackson/the message and the man/theory of book i.htm

The American Experiments, 1734-1762.
... The first impulse sprang from the kindness of Zinzendorf's ... in America was mostly
among poor people"some ... by contributions from their congregations, they would ...
/.../hutton/history of the moravian church/chapter xiv the american experiments.htm

On Dress
... called Moravians;) look into the congregations, in London ... shall not need these poor
coverings; for ... God, bowels of mercies, kindness, gentleness, longsuffering ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 88 on dress.htm