Giving to the Poor

(Prov 19:17 GNB) When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the LORD, and the LORD will pay you back.

This morning we continue in the book of Proverbs. Solomon gives us something to think about here money! The Bible actually has a great deal to say about money and how we are to manage our personal finances. Not only does the Father want us to have enough to meet our needs, but He also desires that we support ministry and the less fortunate.

In our home we observe four categories of giving with our personal finances: 1) Tithes: which goes to our local church and is a tenth of everything that comes into our home, 2) Offering: which also goes to our local church and it is whatever we are led to give above and beyond the tithe, 3) Supporting Ministries: which are ministries that are not our local church, but ministries that we believe in, and 4) Giving to the Poor: which is what we are discussing today.

For one reason or another there will always be poor in this world. Jesus Himself acknowledged this. One day a young lady poured a very expensive perfume over Jesus' head and the disciples reaction was: "What a waste! It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor." But Jesus, aware of this, replied, "Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to Me? You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me" (see Mat 26:9-11). Without getting into the context of that passage, the simple point is that Jesus acknowledged the fact that we will always have the poor among us.

If that is the case, then those of us who are more fortunate, should give to the poor and when we do, the Father Himself will ensure that the act of kindness will not in vain. To me, giving to is three things:

1. Right: What is the purpose of discipleship, if not evangelism? Likewise, what is the purpose of financial prosperity, if not generosity? Government Welfare was not God's idea. God's plan is much more simple than that. The Father simply looks for a man whose heart is full of compassion towards the poor, and whose hands distribute to their needs, in sincere love; this man will continually be blessed. Once you prove you can be trusted to be a conduit through which God can bless others, the flow will never stop.


2. Necessary: We have already established the fact that the poor will always be with us. That being the case, the will always be a need for willing vessels who will cooperate with God to meet their needs. Are you willing? Once you start giving you will never regret it!

3. A Temporary Solution: When Jesus' cousin (John the Baptist) was in jail he sent his disciples to ask Jesus the following question: "Are the one he said was going to come, or should we expect someone else?" Jesus' response was: "Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind can see, the lame can walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf can hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Gospel is preached to the poor"(see Luke 7:20-22).

What is the answer to being blind? Seeing. What is the answer to being lame? Walking. What is the answer to being a leper? Clean skin. What is the answer to deafness? Hearing. What is the answer to death? Life. And so, what is the answer to poverty? Is it money? NO! It's the Gospel! While giving money to the poor is definitely necessary, it is NOT addressing the real problem. The true answer to poverty is mind renewal. Once the Word gets down inside of a person and the Word starts to come alive in them, it is only a matter of time before they get out of whatever bad situation they find themselves in; poverty included.

So what does this mean to you? Honor the Father with your finances. Give from a willing heart and your life will never be the same!

Father, I thank You for blessing me to be a blessing. I give, save, and spend (in that order) for the rest of my life. I want to be a conduit through which You bless others. Use me as a distribution center. The more comes in, the more will go out. I am focused on much more than just my household and me. You give me the wisdom to manage my finances in such a way that I can help finance our needs and Your kingdom purposes in the earth. In Jesus' name. Amen!