Poverty and caring for the poor

Introduction:

Whenever you are visiting a Majority world country like Guatemala, you at times can be overwhelmed by the poverty and the number of poor people in the country.

The World Bank statistics indicate that in 2016 almost 60% of the population lives at a poverty level which means that families do not have sufficient money to provide for nutritious food, education, health care, and housing. The chronic undernutrition rate for children under age five is 49.8 percent. The gross national income is $3610 per capita or the equivalent of earning $1.79 per hour considering a 40 hour work week.

Poverty is a result of sin which has caused broken relationships between:

God and man –we are separated from God and unable to relate to him in the way we were originally created. Our fallen nature has resulted in many problems because we are no longer in right relationship with God and are not following his ways. Our alienation from God has left of devoid of his wisdom, love, empowerment.

Mankind-we are not in unity with each other, selfishness, greed, exploitation, war, government oppression and control,

Man’s understanding of himself-loss of true identity, purpose, dignity, worth, value of work,

Creation-misuse of natural resources, lack of care, creation itself is groaning for its redemption

God understood that there would be poverty among people if they did not follow his ways. He has a special heart and care for them.

God’s relationship with the poor.

 Refuge:  (Ps 14:6 6      You would confound the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge

Shelter: Isaiah 25.4 “You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall.”

 Executes Justice:  (Ps 140:12).   12      I know that the LORD maintains the cause of the needy, and executes justice for the poor.

Will not forsake them: Isaiah 41:17 “The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.”

Jesus came to preach the good news specifically to them.  (Lk 4:18). “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

God’s care for the poor through his people

Providing food for the poor.

Intentionally leaving crops: By allowing them to work in the field to harvest some of the crop that was intentionally left by the workers for them.  They worked for what they got in many cases.  Only those not able to work were to be provided for by the generosity of others.  Ruth was a beneficiary of this provision by God when she harvested behind the workers to provide food for her mother-in-law, Naomi and herself.

(Le 19:9–10). 9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.

 Land during the Sabbath year rest was for the poor (Ex 23:10–11).

10 For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield; 11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the wild animals may eat. You shall do the same with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.

Dedicated tithes for the poor.

"At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year's produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the aliens, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied." Deuteronomy 14:28-29

During times of celebration they were to remember the poor ( Es 9:22).

22 as the days on which the Jews gained relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and presents to the poor.

Financial help.

Money was to be lent without interest (Ex 22:25).

25 If you lend money to my people, to the poor among you, you shall not deal with them as a creditor; you shall not exact interest from them.

Released from debts; (Dt 15:1).  15 Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts

Restored to their original land every 50 years (Year of Jubilee) (Le 25:13).  13 In this year of jubilee you shall return, every one of you, to your property.

Have an open hand toward the poor.

(Dt 15:11). 11 Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.

Just and timely payment

(Dt 24:14–15). 14 You shall not withhold the wages of poor and needy laborers, whether other Israelites or aliens who reside in your land in one of your towns. 15 You shall pay them their wages daily before sunset, because they are poor and their livelihood depends on them; otherwise they might cry to the LORD against you, and you would incur guilt

Treated equally with justice

No impartiality in law suits against them (Ex 23:3

3 nor shall you be partial to the poor in a lawsuit

They were to be treated equally because they are created by God.  (Job 34:19

    19      who shows no partiality to nobles, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands?

Many countries lack the ability to enforce these rights due to lack of trained and motivated police.  Other countries lack a viable criminal justice system or are overwhelmed with the number of cases that backlog their system.  Corruption within the justice system impedes many from having their cases brought to court.  People who are poor are often not represented by a lawyer and are unprepared to defend themselves resulting in convictions and sentencing that are undeserved and unjust. In several countries people wait in jail until they can have their day in court and often the amount of time spent in jail waiting is longer than the sentence they would receive if they were found guilty of the crime they were accused of committing!

Verses 12-18 The Response of God toward the oppressed and the oppressors

¹²Rise up, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; do not forget the oppressed. ¹³               Why do the wicked renounce God, and say in their hearts, “You will not call us to account”? ¹⁴But you do see! Indeed you note trouble and grief, that you may take it into your hands; the helpless commit themselves to you; you have been the helper of the orphan. ¹⁵Break the arm of the wicked and evildoers; seek out their wickedness until you find none. ¹⁶The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations shall perish from his land. ¹⁷O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear ¹⁸to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more.

When we serve the poor we are serving the Lord

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me." Then the righteous will answer him and say, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or see you thisty and give you drink?".. The king will say to them in reply, "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did to one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me."Matthew 25: 35-40

God sees, takes note of what is happening, holds people accountable, executes punishment, hears the cry of the oppressed and strengthens them to be able to endure until justice is served.

Proverbs also speaks of the actions against the oppressors.

Not be heard

    13      If you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard. (Pr 21:13).

Oppression will lead to loss

(Pr 22:16).     16      Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself,   and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.

Those who add wealth through high interest will lose it (Pr 28:8).

    8      One who augments wealth by exorbitant interest   gathers it for another who is kind to the poor.

Oppression of the poor is an insult to God (Pr 14:31).

    31      Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him.

Turning a blind eye brings a curse (Pr 28:27

    27      Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse.

What are the rights of the poor and oppressed?  What does God expect from us and require of us? (Pr 29:7).

    7      The righteous know the rights of the poor; the wicked have no such understanding

1. They are to be treated with respect and dignity because they are created in his image and likeness.  Do we see the face of Jesus when we look at the poor?  

Prov. 22. 2 The rich and the poor have this in common:  the LORD is the maker of them all.

Mother Teresa said, "My true community is the poor - their security is my security, their health is my health. My home is among the poor, and not only the poor, but the poorest of them: the people no one will go near because they are filthy and suffering from contagious diseases, full of germs and vermin infested; the people who can't go to church because they can't go out naked; the people who can no longer eat because they have'nt the strength; the people who lie down in the street, knowing they are going to die, while others look away and pass them by; the people who no longer cry because their tears have run dry! The Lord wants me exactly where I am - he will provide the answers."

2. They are to be treated equally, not exploited or treated with prejudice because of their poverty.

(Jas 2:1–4).  2 My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

3. They are to be paid justly and not have money withheld. (Dt 24:14–15).
4. They are to be given opportunities to work to provide for themselves.

(Lev 19:9–10). This would also include education and training to be able to take advantage of opportunities.

5. They are to be given financial help to meet immediate needs.

(1 Jn 3:17).  17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?

6. They are to be given equal justice and representation. 

(Pr 29:14).   14 If a king judges the poor with equity, his throne will be established forever.

7. They are to have a place of refuge and shelter during hard times.

 (Is 25:4).   4   For you have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge to the needy in their distress,  a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat

8. They are to be given help to be set free from debts. 

Education in managing finances is part of the process to eliminate the same failure in the future.

Year of debt release after 7 years, year of Jubilee after 50 years returned property to the original owner.

(Dt 15:1).  15 Every seventh year you shall grant a remission of debts

Jesus said that the poor will always be with us.  Poverty is the result of sin and as long as there are sinners there will be poor people.  The root of all poverty is sin in the hearts of the oppressors and sin in the hearts of the poor.  When our actions toward the poor line up with the directives of the word of God we can offer them the help they need to be set free from poverty.