God's View of the Poor and Poverty

What Does God Say About The Poor & Those Who Oppress The Poor

The Bible, the word of God, discusses the subject of poor and needy people covering the various circumstances that they encounter in life. First, the Scriptures say that there will always be poor and needy people in the world, reason being our adversary (the Devil) is still in business stealing, killing, and destroying things in the lives of people (even Christians). God considers the poor who walk in His uprightness better than the rich and perverse and the God of Israel will not forsake the poor.

This topic is one of importance in our country today as more and more brothers and sisters in Christ and their families are under attack. Just as the past great depression came to be, again we have corrupt government officials controlled by big business lobby groups, passing legislation that results in the super rich milking the less affluent for their resources and putting them down into the ranks of the ever growing number of American poor.

The Scriptures addresses the poor with His favor and the oppressors (whether employers or governments) in a different light. The next verses give you the basics on God's view of the poor.
"Deuteronomy 15:11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land."
"Proverbs 28: 6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich."
"Isaiah 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them."

God has always promoted His concern and care for the poor and needy to His people. He does not leave them forever in the hand of oppressors and those who victimize them by robbing them of the little they have, to increase their own wealth. He delivers them from unfair cruelty, injustice, imprisonment, and from death at the hands of the wicked. Let's look at the scriptures relating to God's deliverance. Note, in Job 29:12, Psalms 72:12 that God places "the people who had no one willing to help them" positioned in the same perspective as the poor and needy in His eyes.

God is a helper of the fatherless.
"Psalms 10:14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless."

God sets the poor in safety.

"Psalms 12:5 For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him."

God delivers the poor from strong oppressors.
"Psalms 35:10 All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?"

God saves the poor from the violence of those who are in power.
"Job 5:15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty."

God delivers the poor, fatherless, and them with no help.
"Job 29:12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him."
God hears the cry of the poor and afflicted.”
"Job 34:28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted."

God gives right to the poor but He does not preserve the life of the oppressors.
"Job 36:6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor."

Delivers the poor from affliction & opens their ears to receive revelation from Him.
"Job 36:15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression."

They are Not forgotten by God.
"Psalms 9:18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever."

God hears their prayers.
"Psalms 69:33 For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners."

God hears their prayers and saves them.
"Psalms 72:12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.
13 He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy."

God exalts the poor and ensures the continuation of their name (their families).
"Psalms 107:41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock."

God stands beside the poor to deliver him from his accusers.
"Psalms 109:31 For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul."

God champions the cause of the poor.
"Psalms 140:12 I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor."

God is a strength to the poor, a refuge, and shelter.
"Isaiah 25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall."

God delivers the poor out of the clutches of the evildoers.
"Jeremiah 20:13 Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers."

From the preceding scriptures, it is a certainty that God hears the cry of the poor, the needy, and those who have no one willing to help them. That God delivers and protects them from those who would oppress them. God takes a dim outlook on people and governments who mistreat and neglect them. Let us look at the consequences to people and governments who go against God's desire for these people to be treated justly and with care. First let's look at scripture dealing with evil treatment of the poor and needy.

"The wicked who persecute will be taken in their own devices.
Psalms 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined."

God says to employers are not to oppress "cheat" poor and needy employees (hired servants).
"Deuteronomy 24:14 Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:"

Those who are out to cast down and slay the poor and needy will find their weapons turning back on them.
"Psalms 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. 15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. 16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked."

God will cut off memory of them on earth who persecute the poor and needy.
"Psalms 109:14 Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out. 15 Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth. 16 Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart."

He that oppresses the poor reproaches God.
"Proverbs 14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor."

Whoever makes fun of the poor reproaches God and will not go unpunished.
"Proverbs 17: 5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished."

Whoever ignores the cry for help of the poor, will some day cry and be ignored.
"Proverbs 21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."

Whoever oppresses the poor to take what he has to increases their riches will surely come to want themselves.
"Proverbs 22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want."

From the standpoint of God's Word, those who dish out evil circumstances to the poor and needy will not prosper in their oppression and mistreatment. Since in the Law of Moses provision was made by God for the poor being taken care of, it is clear what God wants done. There are example throughout the Old Testament of judgment from God being levied against governments and nations who mistreated the poor.

God says that judgment to oppressors of the poor will be in a day of visitation, destruction from which there will be no place to flee to.
"Isaiah 10:1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; 2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless! 3 And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?"

From the standpoint of their treatment by the judicial systems, like today, the judicial system overlooked the deeds of the rich & wicked and failed to handle the case of the poor and needy in a fair just manner. The result was that God would withhold His blessings from the land and God would take vengeance on that nation.
"Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. 26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. 27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. 28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. 29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?"

One of the major sins of Sodom was they did not take care of the poor and needy.
"Ezekiel 16:49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy."

Ezekiel told Israel for using oppression, robbery, and persecution (vexed) againt the poor, needy, and stranger, God would pour out His indignation upon them
"Ezekiel 22:29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. 30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. 31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD."

God said He would not turn away the punishment of Israel for four things, the fourth being mistreatment of the righteous and poor.
"Amos 2:6 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;"

God told the Samaritans that for oppressing the poor and needy He would take them away with hooks and their children with fish hooks.
"Amos 4:1 Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink. 2 The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks."

God said He would not forget any of their works; making the poor of the land to fall and, enslaving the poor. The whole land would tremble and it would rise up as a flood to cast out and drowned. Then in that day the sun would not shine at noon and the earth would be darkened. He would make all its feast as the mourning for a lost only son.
"Amos 8:4 Hear this, O ye that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail, 5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? 6 That we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes; yea, and sell the refuse of the wheat? 7 The LORD hath sworn by the excellency of Jacob, Surely I will never forget any of their works. 8 Shall not the land tremble for this, and every one mourn that dwelleth therein? and it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned, as by the flood of Egypt. 9 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day: 10 And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins, and baldness upon every head; and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day."

God said to exercise true judgment, fair judgment, and not to oppress the widow, fatherless, stranger, and the poor. But when God was ignored, though He had sent the prophets preceding Zechariah to say the same, great wrath came from God on the land.
"Zechariah 7:9 Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother: 10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. 11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. 12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts."

As you can see, God did not take lightly the oppression of the poor and there were serious consequences for their abuse and mistreatment. On the other hand, God lists the benefits (promises available) for treating the poor and needy as He wants them treated. There is also an established thing that God says is to be done: "Open your mouth to judge righteously and to plead the cause of the poor and needy." Continuing on from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see Jesus' teachings in regard to the poor

God will deliver you in time of trouble, if you have helped the poor.
"Psalms 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble."

God will repay you what you give to the poor.
"Proverbs 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again."

If you give to the poor you will lack nothing - don't give and have many a curse.
"Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse."

A righteous person does what is expected for the poor
"Proverbs 29:7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it."

Judge righteously and plead the cause of the needy.
"Proverbs 31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy."

As the Old Testament prophecies indicated, a major part of Jesus' ministry here on earth would be to the poor. Jesus, when teaching, quoted the prophecy concerning himself and his ministry clearly, recorded in Luke.
"Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,"
"Luke 7:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached."

Jesus Christ was a poor person in the material sense that the world sees things. Going further beyond that point Jesus was a homeless person. He gave up his home and all he had to do his ministry here on earth and for a specific reason.
Jesus had no home. (see Matthew 8:18-22 also)
"Luke 9:57 And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58 And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59 And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62 And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Jesus Christ was born into one of the royal families of Israel, direct descendants from King David & King Solomon. He could have utilized his family resources and lived comfortably. Yet, for the greater benefit of the believers and the soon to come, adopted children of God, he gave up his family wealth and became poor to enable us to be rich in all aspects of life (as his statement is recorded in John 10:10 - "I am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly"). Jesus became poor so that we might be rich.
"2 Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

In the Age of Grace we are in, the time of the Church (the body of Christ), the believers have the responsibility of taking care of the needs of the poor. First the poor within the Church and then, with what is left over, the poor in the world.
Take care in meeting the needs of the poor saints, saints being synonymous with believers.
"Romans 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem."

The Church is to is to provide sustenance to him who ministers the Word of God to them and the poor - including the believers in need.
"2 Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. 12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;"

The most detailed lesson in taking care of the poor and needy by the church is recorded in the book of James. We are not to have "respect of persons", we are not to be preferential to someone just because he is rich and slight the poor. In God's eyes we are equal in His sight. God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith. If you see your brother or sister in Christ destitute, it your obligation to help them. Just saying, brother I'll pray for you and doing nothing to help (using some of the abundance God blessed you with) it not right. We witness our faith in God by putting it into action. Faith without work is dead.
"James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. 14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."

It is a shame that in our country today, even the Churches (denominations) are full of the poor and needy, and all they get (beside some meager symbolic box of food or such) is sermons and counseling on how God will meet your needs. God intended taking care of the poor to be an individual project too. In the description of the virtuous woman (virtuous wife) one of the thing mentioned is: Proverbs 31:20 "She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy." It is quite clearly the description of a household project on an individual family basis. You think it over.
Change must start with the individual if change will happen in the country, and that change needs to start were it should be already...with the individuals in the church.