The poor at God’s heart
God has always had in heart the poor and the needy. There are many less fortunate than us, that go without a meal a day. With the war between Ukraine and Russia leaving 71 million people in hunger, a spike in poverty is taking affect. Ukraine and Russia were major contributors of food and energy to other countries in poverty. In fact, it was a law of God for his people to attend to the poor. God instructed his people to allow the poor to gather food from their lands before giving rest to the land (Ex23:11). There are many benefits when we do not give sparingly, as the bible instructs us of (2Co9:6), that we are enriched by. For example, Solomon tells us in the book of proverbs that when we give to the poor it is like we are lending to God (pro19:17), who will repay us back. The prophet Isaiah tells us that when we pour ourselves in giving our light will rise and those gloomy days will shine (Is58:10). God takes series our giving.
Mark 12:41:42
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
At the temple Jesus found himself being A. attacked by the religious leaders, B. questioned about paying taxes, C. challenged about the resurrection of the dead and a woman who married seven brothers, and D. questioned about the greatest commandment by a scribe. Jesus than in verses 35-37 brings the topic of his deity and David calling the Messiah Lord (Mk12:35-37). He sets the stage for everyone to note that he was the Messiah and that he was in their temple. There at the temple was a box for which everyone rich and poor were supposed to put their donations to be distributed among the needy, and Jesus sits right across from it to watch those giving. This act of sitting across the offering box leads us to believe that God is interested in our giving, and that he keeps track. And that when we give, we honor the Lord (pro14:31) and in turn God will fill our barns with grain and prosperity (pro3:9-10).
The rich and the poor both gave, but how they gave made a more significant difference in how God responded. The rich gave out of their abundance or leftovers, but the poor widow gave out of her substance. There was a rich young man who was confronted with the amount of his giving by Christ, and yet he was not willing to give the widows all (Mk10:21-22).
11 but during the seventh year let the land lie unplowed and unused. Then the poor among your people may get food from it, and the wild animals may eat what is left. Do the same with your vineyard and your olive grove.
2 Corinthians 9:6
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Isaiah 58:10
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.
Mark 12:36
36 David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’a]
Proverbs 14:31
Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
Proverbs 3:910
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.
Mark 10:21-22
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.