Ugly things can be said about the homeless. Often, these sorts of generalizations are simplistic answers to the complex question: “How does someone end up homeless?” To truly honor God and love our neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39), we need a biblical perspective on poverty.
Serving the Poor Always Honors God
Have you ever wondered how to do God’s will? One sure way is to serve the poor.
Proverbs 14:31 (NIV) He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
If you insult the poor, you are really insulting God. On the other hand, if you are sincerely serving the needs of the poor in a helpful and healthy way, you are honoring God and doing God’s will. Whether at home or abroad, if you are serving the poor, you are exactly where God wants you to be because serving the poor always honors God.
Helping the Poor Is Also Giving to God
It’s important to give to God through your church. But that’s not the only way to give to God.
Proverbs 19:17 (NIV) He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done!
When you give your time, your energy, and even your money to the poor, you are actually giving to God – and he will reward you either in this life or in the next (Matthew 6:19-21).
But what if you have a hard time caring about the poor? Maybe you had a bad experience where you tried serving the needy or helping the homeless and it backfired? There are lazy, mean poor people just like there are lazy, mean wealthy people. Some organizations that serve the poor are pretty disorganized, which can be demotivating.
No matter the hang-up, never allow a bad experience – or several bad experiences – to prevent you from caring for the poor.
You Will Have Compassion for the Poor if You Really Love God
Can you say you truly love God but that you also have no or little compassion for the poor?
1 John 3:17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother in need but shows no compassion – how can God’s love be in that person?
If you truly love God, you will love people like God loves people – including the poor. If we sincerely love God, this love for others should naturally flow out of us. And when we love the poor like God loves the poor, we should naturally have so much compassion for them that we would be more than willing to serve.
God asks us to do hard things like forgiving others, loving our enemies, and showing compassion to the poor. If you truly love God, these things should become more natural for you as your pursuit of God deepens.
Serving the poor honors God and helping the poor is giving to God, but what ties them all together is that our passion for God expresses itself in compassion for those in need.
- What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- What are some ugly things people say about the poor or the homeless? Do you think any of the things people say are true? Explain.
- Read Proverbs 14:13. How is complaining about poor people dishonoring to God? How is serving the needy honoring God?
- Do you think it is better to give your money, your used stuff, or your time to help the poor, and why?
- Read Proverbs 19:17. How is giving any resource to the poor just like giving to God? How do you think God will repay or reward you?
- Read 1 John 3:17. Do you agree or disagree with what John is saying, and why? If you don’t have compassion for the poor, why would it be hard to believe you really love God? Why would you doubt someone’s compassion if they never go out and help those in need?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
