HOME LIST: http://www.eztech.com/bibletalks/ TOPICS PAGE: http://metanet.net/bibletalks/topics.htm EMAIL: bibletalks@eztech.com Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The Bible Talks about THE NEEDY. (A never-ending opportunity to help someone and be blessed for it). GOD TELLS US THE POOR ARE ALWAYS WITH US. DEUTERONOMY 15:11 "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." MATTHEW 26:11 "For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always." GOD IS VERY MUCH AWARE OF THOSE IN NEED. PSALM 69:33 "For the LORD hears the poor,...." ISAIAH 41:17 "When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongues fail for thirst, I, the LORD, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them." GOD TELLS US THE POOR ARE TRAGIC FIGURES. "PROVERBS 14:20; PSALM 10:2,9; PROVERBS 19:7; 22:7. The poor may steal and thus profane the name of God....are hated....are hurt....friends leave them....rich rule over them....their wisdom is despised and not heeded. GOD ENCOURAGES US TO HELP THE NEEDY. PROVERBS 31:20 "She extends her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy." WE ARE TO WORK SO THAT WE CAN SHARE. EPHESIANS 4:28 ".... but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need." GOD NOT ONLY ENCOURAGES US TO HELP BUT ALSO COMMANDS US TO HELP. EXODUS 22:25 "If you lend money to any of My people who are poor among you, you shall not be like a moneylender to him; you shall not charge him interest." LEVITICUS 19:10 "...'And you shall not glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather every grape of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger: I am the LORD your God" DEUTERONOMY 15:8 "but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs." PSALM 82:4 "Deliver the poor and needy; Free them from the hand of the wicked." PROVERBS 31:9 "Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." ZECHARIAH 7:10 "Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother." GOD's ENCOURAGEMENT AND COMMANDS SHOW HIS GREAT COMPASSION AND CONCERN FOR THOSE IN NEED. His commands make it obvious that He expects us to be His helping arm but leaves it up to our free-will whether we will help or not God promises blessings if we help and curses if we don't. History tells us that God follows through on His promises. GOD PROMISES TO HELP US IF WE HELP THE HELPLESS. PSALM 41:1.2,3. "Blessed is he who considers the poor; The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble."The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies. The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sickbed." PROVERBS 14:21 "He who despises his neighbor sins; but he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he." PROVERBS 19:17 " He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, and He will pay back what he has given." PROVERBS 22:9 "He who has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor." PROVERBS 28:27 "He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses." (Job tells us that the good life he had had was because he helped the poor and helpless.) (Job 29:12, 15, 16, 29; Chapter 30:25; 31:16-22). GOD PROMISES CURSES IF WE DON'T HELP. PROVERBS 21:13 "Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard." PROVERBS 22:22 "Do not rob the poor because he is poor, nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;..." PROVERBS 22:23 "...for the LORD will plead their cause, and plunder the soul of those who plunder them." PROVERBS 28:27 "He who gives to the poor will not lack, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses." WHEN WE HELP THE HELPLESS WE HONOR GOD. PROVERBS 14:31 ".... but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy." GOD IS DISHONORED WHEN WE DON'T HELP PROVERBS 14:31 " He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, ...." GOD TELLS US THAT FEELING SORRY FOR THE NEEDY AND HELPLESS IS NOT ENOUGH. JAMES 2:15,16 "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food 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?" GOD IS SO CONCERNED THAT THE NEEDY BE HELPED THROUGH OUR EFFORTS, THAT THE FINAL JUDGMENT OF THE NATIONS WILL BE BASED ON WHETHER THE POOR AND NEEDY WERE HELPED BECAUSE WHAT WE DO TO THE HELPLESS WE ARE DOING TO GOD! MATTHEW 25:34 - "Then the King will say to those on His right hand(believers), 'Come,....inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry and you gace Me food;....thirsty and you gave Me drink: I was a stranger and you took Me in;....naked and you clothed Me;....sick and you visited Me;....in prison and you came to Me.' "Then the righteoius will answer Him,...'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You....thirsty and give you drink?....a stranger and taken You in,...naked and clothed You...sick or in prison and came to You?" "Then 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." WHATEVER WE DO TO HELP SOMEONE WE ARE DOING IT TO THE LORD! In order to receive a particular Bible Talks, go to: http://www.eztech.com/bibletalks/topics.htm to select a Bible Talks by topic. Click on the topic you want and print or read it on the screen.