Scriptures that Motivate Us
There are numerous Old Testament and New Testament passages that make it starkly clear how important helping the poor is to our Lord God. Here are just a few:
You shall not pervert the judgment of your poor in his cause (Exodus 23:6).
For the poor shall never cease out of the land. Therefore, I command you saying, You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor, and to your needy, in your land (Deut. 15:11).
He shall have pity on the poor and needy and shall save the souls of the needy (Psalms 72:13).
But He raises up the poor from affliction and sets families like a flock (Ps. 107:41).
He shall have pity on the poor and needy and shall save the souls of the needy. (Psalm 72:13).
Whoever scorns the poor reviles his Maker; he who is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished (Proverbs 17:5).
He who has pity upon the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given (Proverbs 19:17).
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily (Isaiah 58:6-8).
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8).
When Christ the Lord judges the Nations (the parable of the sheep and the goats):
Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, "Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?" And the King will answer and say to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me" (Matthew 25:37-40).
The Two Great Commandments:
"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27; and Leviticus 19:18).
