Scripture commands us to help the poor. The question is: who are the deserving poor, and how are we to help them? This lesson addresses the latter question.
In giving to the poor, we must guard our hearts against its wicked tendency to despise them. Paraphrasing Heidelberg Catechism question 5, "we are prone by nature to hate God and our poor neighbor." Instead, we must operate according to the generosity rule: when in doubt, err on the side of generosity.
So how do we help the poor?
Biblical giving requires obligations and responsibilities from the giver and recipient. The Bible's emphasis in giving to the poor is on accountability and stewardship, not no-strings-attached gifts. We see this clearly in the laws of gleaning and the charitable loan, where the landowner and lender are to obey the Lord and help the poor. The poor reciprocate by working hard and expressing gratitude.
In Acts 9, Dorcas gave tangible items — quilts and clothes that she had made — to poor widows, an example for us to follow.
Finally, there is a time and place to give money. If we do so, we must follow the biblical principles of giving, including recognizing there is no obligation to help the lazy, foolish, or those caught in the sins of addictions.
One of the hallmarks of properly helping the poor is giving to those you know. But how do you help the stranger? In the book of Acts, Barnabas sold his property and laid the proceeds at the feet of the apostles. When there was a famine, recorded later in the book, the brethren endeavored to help the saints in Judea. And they did so, once again, through the church's officers. It is right and proper to help strangers by giving through the church
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Kurt Snow serves as a ruling elder at Covenant Reformed Church of Sacramento (RCUS). He served as a member of the Board of Governors of City Seminary of Sacramento from 2000 to 2020.
