Why should Christians help the poor

By Wayne Grudem

Why should Christians want to help the poor? The Bible gives us two kinds of reasons.

First, there are the general commands of Scripture.

Jesus said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). If we love someone who is poor, we will want to help that poor person. Jesus also said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). If we want to let the “light” of our conduct shine before others, we certainly should give help to those in need. In fact, the apostle Paul says that God has called us to live lives that are characterized by “good works”: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). Certainly one of the good works that God wants us to do is helping those who are in need.

Second, we should want to help the poor because there are numerous specific commandsin Scripture that tell us to do so.¹ Here are some of them:

Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do. (Gal. 2:10)

But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? (1 John 3:17)

If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of the towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. (Deut. 15:7–8)

For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.” (Deut. 15:11)

Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him. (Ps. 41:1)

Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. (Prov. 14:31)