The Word of God, emphasises again and again, that we as Christians, should be kind and generous towards others in general, and in particular, towards the poor and the needy.
– “7 “If there is 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, 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs. 9 Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the LORD against you, and it become sin among you. 10 You shall surely give to him, and your heart should not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your works and in all to which you put your hand. 11 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 15:7-11
– “6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?” – Isaiah 58:6-7
– “14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” – James 2:14-17
– “40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” – Matthew 25:40
Andrew Murray, has a spiritually uplifting perspective about what we possess, and how we are using it…
– “The world asks, “What does a man own?”; Christ asks, “How does he use it?”Billy Sunday, a great servant of God has an insightful take on the riches and our heart…
– “The fellow that has no money is poor. The fellow that has nothing but money is poorer still.”
What the LORD asks of us in the Bible; and what His people advise us, as the disciples of the LORD Jesus Christ is something we ought to take seriously. Therefore let us be ye kind, generous and magnanimous towards others around us. Especially the poor and the needy. We find so many such people, right in front of our eyes, and all around us, who are desperate, and in need of help. Even so the LORD help us.
"Earthly goods are given to be used, not to be collected…. Hoarding is idolatry."