Important Biblical Verses
All God’s people should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the aged, the helpless, and the sick.
"When my father and mother forsake me, The Lord will take me up!” Psalm 27:10
Many have had the sad experience of being forsaken by father or mother. Broken homes, differences of belief, addiction to drugs or alcohol, even psychological isolation can leave children crippled by this loss. Even as adults, the pain may linger. God can take that place in our life, fill that void, and heal that hurt. He can direct us to adults who may take the role of father or mother for us. His love is sufficient for all our needs!
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."(Matthew 19:14)
Jesus said, “Whoever welcomes one little child like this in My name, welcomes Me.” (Matthew 18:5)
Jesus commanded us to give to the needy. (Luke 12:33)
Jesus said, "If you love Me ... feed My lambs." (John 21:15)
Little children, let us love not in word or speech, but in truth and action. (1 John 3:18)
DEUTERONOMY 14:22-28
The Bible supports an organized system of caring for the poor. God told His people to use their tithe for those who were helpless, hungry or poor. These regulations were designed to prevent countries from sinking under crushing poverty and oppression. It is everyone’s responsibility to care for those less fortunate. Families are to help other family members, and towns are to help members of the community. National laws protect the rights of the poor, but helping the poor is also an active part of religious life. God counts on believers to provide for the needy, and we should use what God has given us to aid those less fortunate. We must look beyond our regular giving and think of ways to help the needy in modern times. This helps us show our regard for God as Creator of all people, share God’s goodness with others, and draw new believers to Him. It is a practical and essential way to make faith work in everyday life.
DEUTERONOMY 15:1-11
Many conclude that people are poor through some fault of their own. This kind of reasoning makes it easy to close your hearts and hands to the needy. But we are not to invent reasons for ignoring the poor. We are to respond to their needs no matter whom or what was responsible for their condition. Humanitarian acts help us recognize that God created each person with dignity and worth.
James 2:14 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
BUILDING CHURCHES
I. EVANGELISM AND MISSIONS
It is the duty and privilege of every follower of Christ and of every church of the Lord Jesus Christ to endeavor to make disciples of all nations. The new birth of man’s spirit by God’s Holy Spirit means the birth of love for others. Missionary effort on the part of all rests thus upon a spiritual necessity of the regenerate life, and is expressly and repeatedly commanded in the teachings of Christ. It is the duty of every child of God to seek constantly to win the lost to Christ by personal effort and by all other methods in harmony with the gospel of Christ.
IV. THE CHRISTIAN AND THE SOCIAL ORDER
Every Christian is under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in his own life and in human society. Means and methods used for the improvement of society and the establishment of righteousness among men can be truly and permanently helpful only when they are rooted in the regeneration of the individual by the saving grace of God in Christ Jesus. The Christian should oppose in the spirit of Christ every form of greed, selfishness, and vice. He should work to provide for the orphaned, the needy, the aged, the helpless, and the sick. Every Christian should seek to bring industry, government, and society as a whole under the sway of the principles of righteousness, truth, and brotherly love. In order to promote these ends Christians should be ready to work with all men of good will in any good cause, always being careful to act in the spirit of love without compromising their loyalty to Christ and His truth.