BIBLICAL FOUNDATION FOR Charity
Historic example, although extensive, is not sufficient on which to support a challenge for the people of God to rise up and meet the increasing need for services and ministry to the world’s homeless and needy. Thus, we turn to the Scriptures to solidify our cause.
OLD TESTAMENT SUPPORT
The poor have always figured prominently in God’s economy as a measure of His love and grace being proclaimed and distributed through the nation of Israel. It is obvious throughout Israel’s history that they were, as a people, to demonstrate special care for others—inside and outside the nation. These charges are scattered throughout the Old Testament and are detailed in the Law and through the Prophets, especially when addressing failure on the part of the nation. There is ample detail for the stewardship that was to be exercised; Both Leviticus 25 and Deuteronomy 15 include directives for the nation to be stewards of the land and resources, allowing a present and future prosperity for their benefit and that of the poor . . .
. . . you are to sustain him as a stranger or sojourner, that he may live with you . . . there will be no poor among you . . . For the poor will never cease to be in the land; therefore I command you: You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor . . .”
Knowing these divine directives, Job even used his philanthropy as a defense to his accusers:
No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows. Whenever I saw the homeless without clothes and the needy with nothing to wear, did they not praise me for providing wool clothing to keep them warm? (Job 31:18-20 NLT)
Helen Montgomery, in The Bible and Missions, examines the social passion that is addressed by the prophets: “[they] thundered for the poor in messages that are today’s tracts for the times.” (Montgomery 2009:20) Many texts speak of the severe discipline of God for certain heinous sin, but the evidence is clear that it included those who failed to extend their hand to those in need:
“As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “Sodom, your sister and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done. “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy.” (Ez 16:48-49)
Isaiah also levels a charge against those who fasted in Israel due to their failure in this regard:
“[This is] the fast which I chose . . . divide your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him . . . then you will call, and the Lord will answer . . .” (Is 58:7)
This message of outreach to the poor is also found throughout the book of Amos, the eighth-century prophet, who preached to the ruling elite of Samaria a message of judgment because of their social injustice, charging “the oppression of the poor in Israel as crimes of violence as if at war.” (Okoye 2006:74, 86) Failure to respond to the needy in our midst brings a heavy charge of robbery from God against those who ignore giving through tithes and contributions. (Mal 3:7-12)
Moreover, the same message continues into the church age.
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