Dear brothers and sisters, the call to help the needy is a central theme in our spiritual journey. In the Bible, many examples emphasize the importance of extending our hands to those in need. This act of kindness is not just a moral obligation but an outward expression of our faith.
When we help the needy, we are embodying the very essence of God’s love and compassion. Jesus Christ, during His time on earth, consistently demonstrated this through His actions. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted the broken-hearted. His life was a testament to the importance of caring for those who are less fortunate. By following His example, we are living out the true meaning of being His disciples.
In the story of the Good Samaritan, we see a man who went out of his way to help someone in dire need, despite the society’s barriers that existed between them. This parable teaches us that our love and compassion should know no bounds. We should help others not for recognition or reward, but because it is the right thing to do.
Moreover, helping the needy is also a way of showing gratitude for the blessings we have received and sharing those blessings with others. It is a practical demonstration of our faith in action. When we give to the poor, we are lending to the Lord, and He will repay us for our deeds. This is a promise that reassures us that our efforts are not in vain.
In our daily lives, we might encounter various opportunities to help those in need. Whether it is through donating to charity, volunteering our time, or simply offering a kind word, every act of kindness makes a difference. Let us remember that even small gestures can have a significant impact on someone’s life.
Dear friends, now let’s see the Bible scriptures below that talk about helping the needy.
“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 in”
— Matthew 25:35
“Give to him that asketh thee, from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away”
— Matthew 5:42
“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heavenTherefore 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 6:1-4
“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
“If a brother or sister be naked, destitute of daily foodAnd one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”
— James 2:15-16
“The liberal soul shall be made fat: he that watereth shall be watered also himself”
— Proverbs 11:25
“He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor”
— Proverbs 14:31
“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
“She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy”
— Proverbs 31:20
“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
“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
“Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, brought the prices of the things that were soldAnd laid them down at the apostles’ feet: distribution was made unto every man according as he had need”
— Acts 4:34-35
“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
“But to do good to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased”
— Hebrews 13:16
“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another”
— Galatians 5:13
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, so fulfil the law of Christ”
— Galatians 6:2
“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
“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 ourselves”
— Romans 15:1
“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
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth”
— Ephesians 4:28
“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 joy”
— Job 29:12-13
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others”
— Philippians 2:4
“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering”
— Colossians 3:12
Conclusion
The word of God consistently emphasizes the importance of helping the needy, as seen in verses like Proverbs 19:17, “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done,” and Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” These scriptures teach us the value of compassion, generosity, and empathy. By aiding those in need, we not only follow God’s commandments but also build a more just and loving community. To apply these lessons in our lives, we can actively seek opportunities to support the less fortunate, whether through volunteering, donations, or simple acts of kindness. In doing so, we demonstrate God’s love and fulfill our spiritual duty to care for one another.