Why Should Christians Assist the Poor (3)? By Babatunde Olugboji
We will conclude the series this week.
Christians help the poor because doing so reflects the heart of God, obeys the commands of Scripture, and participates in the mission of Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals Himself as the defender of the vulnerable and calls his people to mirror his justice and mercy.
1) It reflects God’s character
God identifies himself as the protector of the oppressed (Psalm 68:5; Deuteronomy 10:17-19). To honour the poor is to honour their Maker (Proverbs 14:31). Israel’s law built generosity into daily life, gleaning rights, debt release, and openhandedness, so that “there need be no poor among you” (Deuteronomy 15:7-11). When believers give, they display God’s fatherly care to those he loves.
2) The prophets tie true worship to justice
God rejects empty religion that neglects the needy. Isaiah defines true fasting as loosening the bonds of wickedness, sharing bread with the hungry, and sheltering the homeless (Isaiah 58:6-10). Micah distils God’s requirement to “do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Care for the poor is not an optional add-on; it is integral to faithful worship.
3) Jesus centres his mission on the poor
At Nazareth, Jesus announced good news to the poor, liberty to the oppressed, and the year of the Lord’s favour (Luke 4:18-19). He blesses the “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3) and commands discreet, regular almsgiving (Matthew 6:1–4). In the parable of the Good Samaritan, mercy crosses social and ethnic lines to meet concrete needs (Luke 10:25–37). Most sobering, Jesus identifies himself with the hungry, the stranger, the sick, and the imprisoned: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these…you did for me” (Matthew 25:35-40). To serve the poor is to meet Christ.
4) The early church embodied a generous community
After Pentecost, believers sold their possessions and distributed them to those who had need (Acts 2:44-45; 4:34-35). The apostles remembered the poor as a central priority (Galatians 2:10). Paul framed generosity as grace: “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Giving is both worship and fellowship: sharing in God’s self-giving love.
5) Generosity advances the gospel
Faith without works is dead (James 2:14-17). Love that stops at words is counterfeit; true love shares material things (1 John 3:17-18). Generosity trains the heart away from greed, teaches dependence on God for provision, and witnesses to the kingdom’s values (2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Hebrews 13:16). When the church meets practical needs, doors open for the good news and credibility grows (Matthew 5:16).
6) Practical implications.
Helping the poor includes personal compassion (sharing meals, giving, hospitality), structural justice (advocating fair wages, equitable systems, and access), and relational presence (mentoring, befriending, empowering). Scripture commends wise stewardship (Proverbs 11:24–25) and responsible charity that dignifies recipients (Deuteronomy 24:19–22). Start where you are: learn about the needy near you, give consistently, partner with trusted ministries, and pursue policies that protect the vulnerable.
In summary, believers help the poor because the gospel compels it: the God who rescued us in our poverty now sends us to be his hands and feet. “Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do” (Galatians 2:10).
Have a great week!
Questions or comments?
+1-609-887-6610 (WhatsApp)
