Dear brothers and sisters, helping the poor and vulnerable is a significant part of our Christian faith. Throughout the Bible, we see several calls to support those in need. Our Lord Jesus Christ set an example by showing compassion to the poor and the downtrodden. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and cared for the needy. As followers of
Jesus Christ, it is our duty to continue this mission of love and care.
One of the most significant teachings of Jesus is the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this story, a man is beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. Several people pass by without helping, but a Samaritan stops, tends to his wounds, and ensures he is taken to a place of safety. This parable teaches us that our neighbor is anyone in need, regardless of their background or circumstances. We are called to show mercy and kindness to everyone.
In the Old Testament, we also see God’s heart for the poor and vulnerable. The laws given to Moses included provisions for the poor. For instance, farmers were instructed to leave the edges of their fields unharvested so that the poor could glean from them. This act of leaving some of the harvest for the needy shows God’s concern for those who are less fortunate and His desire for His people to care for them.
Furthermore, the prophets often spoke out against injustice and urged the people of Israel to care for the poor. Isaiah, for example, called for true fasting, which includes sharing our food with the hungry, providing shelter to the homeless, and clothing the naked. These actions demonstrate true devotion to God and reflect His love for all His children.
Dear friends, let us remember that our faith is not just about words but also about actions. When we help the poor and vulnerable, we are serving Jesus. He said, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Let us be generous, kind, and compassionate, always looking for ways to support those in need.
Dear friends, now let’s see the Bible scriptures below that talk about helping the poor and vulnerable.
“There is that scattereth, yet increaseth; there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to povertyThe liberal soul shall be made fat: he that watereth shall be watered also himself”
— Proverbs 11:24-25
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor”
— Proverbs 14:31
“Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished”
— Proverbs 17:5
“Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard”
— Proverbs 21:13
“He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor”
— Proverbs 22:9
“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse”
— Proverbs 28:27
“Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destructionOpen thy mouth, judge righteously, plead the cause of the poor needy”
— Proverbs 31:8-9
“He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless widow, loveth the stranger, in giving him food raiment”
— Deuteronomy 10:18
“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, to thy needy, in thy land”
— Deuteronomy 15:11
“Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow”
— Isaiah 1:17
“If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, thy darkness be as the noon day”
— Isaiah 58:10
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison to them that are bound”
— Isaiah 61:1
“Pure religion undefiled before God the Father is this, To visit the fatherless widows in their affliction, to keep himself unspotted from the world”
— James 1:27
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go sell that thou hast, give to the poor, thou shalt have treasure in heaven: come follow me”
— Matthew 19:21
“For I was an hungred, ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, ye took me inNaked, ye clothed me: I was sick, ye visited me: I was in prison, ye came unto meThen shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, fed thee? or thirsty, gave thee drink?When saw we thee a stranger, took thee in? or naked, clothed thee?Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, came unto thee?the King shall answer say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me”
— Matthew 25:35-40
“Give to him that asketh thee, from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away”
— Matthew 5:42
“Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their rewardBut when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doethThat thine alms may be in secret: thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly”
— Matthew 6:2-4
“Sell that ye have, give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth”
— Luke 12:33
“But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blindAnd thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just”
— Luke 14:13-14
“He answereth saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; he that hath meat, let him do likewise”
— Luke 3:11
“Give, it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”
— Luke 6:38
“He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour”
— Psalm 112:9
“I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, the right of the poor”
— Psalm 140:12
“Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The Lord looseth the prisonersThe Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteousThe Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down”
— Psalm 146:7-9
“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble”
— Psalm 41:1
“Defend the poor fatherless: do justice to the afflicted needy”
— Psalm 82:3
“Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do”
— Galatians 2:10
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, so fulfil the law of Christ”
— Galatians 6:2
“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint notAs we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith”
— Galatians 6:9-10
“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive”
— Acts 20:35
“All that believed were together, had all things commonAnd sold their possessions goods, parted them to all men, as every man had need”
— Acts 2:44-45
“But to do good to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased”
— Hebrews 13:16
“For God is not unrighteous to forget your work labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, do minister”
— Hebrews 6:10
“Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality”
— Romans 12:13
“We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, not to please ourselvesLet every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification”
— Romans 15:1-2
“Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, shew mercy compassions every man to his brotherAnd oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart”
— Zechariah 7:9-10
“If thy brother be waxen poor, fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee”
— Leviticus 25:35
“Because I delivered the poor that cried, the fatherless, him that had none to help himThe blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joyI put on righteousness, it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe a diademI was eyes to the blind, feet was I to the lameI was a father to the poor: the cause which I knew not I searched out”
— Job 29:12-16
“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, abundance of idleness was in her in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor needy”
— Ezekiel 16:49
“He judged the cause of the poor needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the Lord”
— Jeremiah 22:16
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”
— Philippians 2:4
“Let our’s also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful”
— Titus 3:14
Conclusion
The word of God consistently encourages the importance of helping the poor and vulnerable, as seen in verses such as Proverbs 19:17 and Matthew 25:40. These scriptures teach us that showing compassion and generosity towards those in need is not only an act of kindness but also a reflection of God’s love. By aiding the less fortunate, we not only fulfill a divine command but also form a society that God wants to build. We can apply these teachings in our lives by actively seeking opportunities to support charitable organizations, volunteering our time, and promoting a spirit of generosity in our daily interactions. Embracing these principles enables us to live out our faith in the lives of others.