DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- HELPING THE POOR

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – HELPING THE POOR

" 'Is there among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, but you shall open our hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.......For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, "You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land." ' " (Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 11).

There seems to be a lot of confusion regarding our responsibility as Christians to minister to the material needs of the poor. God does call us to be compassionate to those who are in need, whether they are believers or not.

However, I find a lot of questioning among Christians about whether God commands us to give money to the person on the street corner with a sign asking for help. I know some people who feel condemned if they don't contribute to the person with money. So what does God say about this?

First, from our focus verses in the Old Testament, we need to note that the command was to help fellow Israelites who were in need. The admonition is to help a brother, someone who is a part of the nation – in the land. Nowhere in the Old Testament does God tell the Israelites to help the poor among the Philistines, Ammonities, or Moabites. In the Old Testament, the command is always to help fellow Israelites. There was no command to help non-Israelites.

In the New Testament in Matthew 26:6-13, Jesus referred to this text when he said, "The poor you have with you always." This was in response to Judas who said that the oil poured on Jesus by Mary should have been sold and given to the poor. Money given for worship takes priority over giving to the poor.

Jesus was teaching His disciples when He said, "If you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me" (Matthew 25:40). The parameters were Jesus' brothers, Who, as He explained in Mark 3:35 are those who do the will of God; in other words, fellow believers.

Our first priority is helping fellow-believers who need our care. That does not mean that we do not help non-Christians, but the household of faith is the priority. As it is written, "Do good to all men, especially to the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10).

The short answer is that Christians have no responsibility to give to the needy outside of the Christian fellowship. And if you are prompted to give to an unbeliever, be sure to follow God's leading.

Love, Dad