POVERTY
(See NEED)
examples of poor people:
specific persons
♦ Lot
♦ Ruth and Naomi
♦ the widow of Zarephath
♦ Jesus
♦ the poor widow
♦ Lazarus
♦ Peter
• Acts 3:6
♦ Paul (at times)
♦ general references
• Deuteronomy 15:4; 1 Samuel 2:7-8; Psalms 34:6; Proverbs 10:15; 14:20; 28:6; Isaiah 10:1-2; Matthew 19:21; Galatians 2:10; James 2:2-6; Revelation 13:16
concern for the poor:
of God
♦ He cares for them
♦ He provides safety for them
♦ His is a refuge for them
♦ He helps them
♦ He makes physical provision for them
♦ He has compassion for them
♦ He executes justice for them
of Christ
♦ His justice for them
♦ His spiritual provision for them
♦ His exhortation to give to them
♦ His commendation of a poor but generous widow
of man
divine requirements
♦ not to charge interest from the poor
♦ render impartial, truthful judgment to poor and rich alike
♦ leave some harvest in the fields for the poor
♦ release the poor from servitude and restore their ancestral property in the year of Jubilee
♦ release the poor from debts on the sabbatical year
♦ give freely for the needs of the poor
♦ observe regulations about pledges from the poor
♦ be gracious to the poor
♦ do not oppress the poor
♦ do not mock the poor
♦ respond to the cry of the poor
♦ give food to the poor
♦ do not rob the poor
♦ be concerned for rights of the poor
• Proverbs 29:7 (cf. Jeremiah 5:28)
♦ give shelter to the homeless poor
♦ clothe the naked among the poor
♦ show mercy to the poor
♦ do not oppress the poor
♦ be hospitable to the poor
♦ do not dishonor the poor
promised results (i.e., for obedience to divine requirements)
♦ happiness
♦ reward from the Lord
♦ divine blessing
♦ Personal needs met
♦ an enduring throne for a king
♦ answered prayer
♦ Heavenly treasure
causes of poverty:
♦ loss of wealth: (See also WEALTH, loss of)
♦ God's sovereign plan:
♦ laziness:
• Proverbs 6:9-11 (cf. 10:4; 20:13; 23:21)
♦ hastiness to get rich:
♦ love of pleasure and rich foods:
♦ subjection to oppression:
♦ giving to the rich:
♦ alcohol and gluttony:
mistreatment of the poor:
♦ references to:
• Deuteronomy 15:9; Job 24:4, 14; Proverbs 14:20; Ecclesiastes 5:8; Isaiah 3:14-15; Jeremiah 2:34; Ezekiel 16:49; 22:29; Amos 5:11-12
♦ judgment for:
♦ contrasted with the rich
• Exodus 30:15; Ruth 3:10; 1 Samuel 2:7; 2 Samuel 12:1; Job 34:19; Psalms 49:2; Proverbs 10:4; 22:2; Revelation 13:16
various other uses of:
♦ poor specimens of animals:
♦ offerings of the poor:
• Leviticus 5:7-13 (cf. Luke 2:21-24)
♦ supplications of the poor:
♦ the continual problem of poverty:
♦ disdain for the wisdom of the poor:
♦ poor in spirit:
• Matthew 5:3 (cf. Luke 6:20)
♦ lack of concern for the poor:
♦ spiritual poverty:
This topic is from the Lockman Foundation.