How Do I Show Kindness to the Poor?

Dear Roger,

I’m concerned that the “haves” in our society are getting more, while the “have-nots” are falling farther behind. We are a middle-class family, and I’ve never really associated with anyone who was not in, or close, to my same socioeconomic level.
Recently, I volunteered to help with COVID-19 vaccinations. For the first time in my life, I noticed the many people who are obviously not as well off as me. I felt my heart leading me to a nearby thrift store where I’ve been volunteering to help the needy.
I know that the Bible has a lot to say about being generous to those in need. Could you please give me a biblical overview of compassion for the needy that I can share with my church and friends?
Thank you, Max

Dear Max,

Abraham Lincoln said, “God must love the poor. That is why He made so many of them.”

Along with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln is perhaps our most famous president.

Notice that Lincoln’s face is not on the silver dollar, or fifty-cent pieces, or quarters; Lincoln’s face is on the penny.

There is a reason for that.

David Brenner knew only poverty and hunger before he immigrated to the United States from Russia. He became a famous American sculptor. It was his idea to put Lincoln on the penny.

He reasoned that there would be more pennies minted than any other coin. Consequently, there would be more pennies in the pockets of the poor people than any other coin. Pennies remind us of people who are poor and in need.

Of course, in our day, only the poor people still worry about pennies. Everyone else handles their money electronically.

Personally, I must admit that I used to have a hard time being generous to the poor because I never saw any of them.

A Personal Lesson

My daughter, Bronwyn, spent one summer traveling with a singing group all across the United States. Her first Sunday back, she used on me an exercise that she learned on her trip.

“Dad, let’s take $20 and go down to the park where the homeless are and feed them some lunch!”

“No,” I said, “I’m tired. I’ve preached four services, and besides, it’s over 100°F. It’s too hot. Let’s do it another day.”

“No,” she said as she took my hand, “we’re going today.”

So, we went to the grocery store, and I bought $20 worth of bread, mayonnaise, ham, Gatorade, a few candy bars, and some paper lunch sacks. We set out to feed the poor.

I thought that we would just drop off a few bags, and we’d head home. What I discovered was that there was no quick drop-off. They all wanted to talk. I had not planned on taking time to talk. I had other things to do. It slowly dawned on me that they were not only hungry; they were lonely.

The next Sunday Bronwyn did it to me again. “Let’s go down to Fourth Avenue,” she said, “we will find some poor people there.” In a thrift shop, we saw a mother buying used toys for her boys. It was obvious that she didn’t have much to spend. I decided to buy the toys for her.

I made my offer at the cash register, and mom was indignant! “No thank you. I’m a schoolteacher. I can get along just fine without your help.”

As we left the thrift store, Bronwyn said to me, “You are not very good at this, are you?”

No, I wasn’t very good at it. I had a long way to go.

The Severity of Poverty

It is not pleasant to be poor – the poor are always behind. An old Russian proverb states: “Poverty is not a sin. It is a great deal worse.”

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor. (Proverbs 10:15)

A poor man is shunned by all his relatives—how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found. (Proverbs 19:7)

The son of my long-time administrative assistant died of leukemia in his early 30s. It was so sad. He had lived quite a rough life. At the funeral his mother said to me, “being a single mom, I could not help a lot. He never could get ahead in life. He was always behind.”

I was fortunate. My parents were able to ensure that my brother, Ronnie, and I got a great start in life. They gave us used cars and the finances we needed for college. “Your college job is to make good grades and get prepared for a career,” they told us. Of course, we both got good summer jobs to help with the financing. When we graduated, we were off to a great start.

Unfortunately, in today’s economy, most parents can’t afford to send their kids to college. Most young people can’t find a summer job or any job at all.

At least one thing I’ve learned, wherever we are on the socioeconomic ladder, it’s hard to look back down.

All would agree that it is not good to be poor. They are always trying to catch up.

The Causes of Poverty

1. Some simply won’t work.

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. (Proverbs 10:4)

2. Time, energy, money, and opportunity are wasted when drugs, alcohol, leisure, and pleasure control a person’s life.

Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. (Proverbs 23:20-21)

3. Some are too undisciplined to work.

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored. (Proverbs 13:18)

4. Some talk too much and work too little.

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. (Proverb 14:23)

5. Get rich quick schemes lead some into poverty.

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)

6. Gambling and the lottery trade money for impossible chances.

Jan and her sister were on the way home from shopping when her sister said that she forgot to buy her lottery tickets for the Saturday night drawing. Her sister suggested that they stop at the Circle K, and she could buy some tickets.

Jan responded, “Why don’t we save some time? I’ll drive by and you can just throw your money out the window.”

A stingy man is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him. (Proverbs 28:22)

7. Many are poor because of people and events over which they have little or no control.

A poor man’s field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away. (Proverbs 13:23)

A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly. (Proverbs 18:23)

The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. (Proverbs 22:7)