Topical Bible: The Poor: May Be: Upright

◄ The Poor: May Be: Upright ►

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The Bible presents a nuanced view of poverty, recognizing that while material wealth is often seen as a blessing, poverty does not inherently denote a lack of righteousness or divine favor. In fact, the Scriptures frequently highlight the uprightness and spiritual richness of the poor, emphasizing their potential for deep faith and moral integrity.

Biblical Examples of Upright Poor

1. The Widow's Offering: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus observes a poor widow contributing two small coins to the temple treasury. He commends her act, saying, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others" (Mark 12:43). Her generosity, despite her poverty, exemplifies her uprightness and devotion.

2. Lazarus: In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), Lazarus is depicted as a poor man who suffers greatly in life but is carried by angels to Abraham's side after death. This narrative underscores the idea that earthly poverty does not preclude one from righteousness or eternal reward.

3. The Beatitudes: Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with a blessing upon the poor in spirit, stating, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). This pronouncement highlights the spiritual uprightness and humility often found among those who are materially poor.

Characteristics of Uprightness Among the Poor

1. Faith and Dependence on God: The poor often exhibit a profound reliance on God, as seen in James 2:5: "Listen, my beloved brothers: Has not God chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised those who love Him?" . Their lack of material resources can lead to a deeper trust in God's provision and promises.

2. Humility: Proverbs 16:19 states, "Better to be lowly in spirit with the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud" . The poor, by virtue of their circumstances, may develop a humility that aligns with biblical ideals of uprightness.

3. Generosity: Despite their limited means, the poor can demonstrate remarkable generosity, as seen in the example of the Macedonian churches, who, "in the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity" (2 Corinthians 8:2).

God's Care for the Upright Poor

The Bible consistently affirms God's special concern for the poor, promising justice and provision. Psalm 140:12 declares, "I know that the LORD upholds justice for the poor and defends the cause of the needy" . This divine advocacy underscores the value and dignity of the poor, affirming their potential for uprightness.

Moral and Ethical Implications

Believers are called to emulate God's concern for the poor, recognizing their potential for uprightness and treating them with dignity and respect. Proverbs 14:31 warns, "Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him" . This ethical mandate encourages Christians to support and uplift the poor, acknowledging their inherent worth and potential for righteousness.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 19:1
Better is the poor that walks in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

To Urban vi
... where is the generosity of charity, and the care of souls, and distribution to the
poor and to ... And a troop of good cardinals, who may be upright columns of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/benincasa/letters of catherine benincasa/to urban vi.htm

To Defend the Weak, or to Help Strangers, or to Perform Similar ...
... to all, but greater respect must be given to the upright. ... Christ may be in the stranger
that comes, for Christ is there in the person of the poor, as He ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxi to defend the.htm

Psalm XI.
... of sinners wishing to "shoot at the upright in heart ... [455] "His eyes look upon the
poor;" either on ... which is probably meant by the word eyelids, we may take to ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm xi.htm

Sunday Before Lent
... Were it possible for me to give all my goods to the poor, and my ... to shame; and their
motive is simply that they themselves may appear upright and godly. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/sunday before lent.htm

Death in Life
... Poor people have not much time to indulge their brains; and no time at all ... against
any one, he cannot forget and forgive: the man may be upright and kindly ...
/.../kingsley/sermons for the times/sermon xvii death in life.htm

The Unrighteous Mammon
... he easily might, had been setting these poor men's rents ... But some one may say, If
mammon be unrighteous, how can a man be righteous and upright in dealing ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxiv the unrighteous mammon.htm

The King --Continued.
... has simply this for its end, that a poor man may ... The grand description may be rendered
in two ways: either that ... is to God: loving to the loving, upright to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/x the kingcontinued.htm

The Uses of the Law
... church or chapel regularly, you are good to the poor, generous and upright, and
you ... is full of all kinds of loathsome creatures, we may walk through ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the uses of the law.htm

On Kindness and Its Several Parts, Namely, Good-Will and ...
... yet we ought to show it especially to an upright man); if in ... us a rule to follow,
so that we may give a ... whoever has stayed the hunger of the poor has lightened ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xxx on kindness and.htm

The Song of Two Cities
... the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in ... it down, even the feet
of the poor, and the ... of the just is uprightness: Thou, most upright, dost weigh ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the song of two cities.htm