By Jennifer Toledo

All throughout scripture Almighty God reveals himself as the compassionate, merciful God who cares for the poor and needy. 

James 5:8 “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy”

Ps. 140:12 “I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.”

Ps.68:5 “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing..”

The Living God is the champion King of the poor and needy. He has faithfully demonstrated mercy and love towards those in need and continually challenges others to do the same. Jesus Christ demonstrated great compassion for the poor while walking on the earth. He never sought after political religious position or got caught up in his own “ministry”. He was simply and truly about the father’s business—and so much of what Jesus did was demonstrate great love towards the poor and broken. Jesus not only befriended the poor, but he partnered with the poor—he shared his life and ministry with the poor. God has always demonstrated extravagant mercy towards the poor, unlike man, God does not show partiality to the rich. (Job.34:19)

James 2:5 “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”

Commanded to the Poor

Loving and caring for the poor is not just one of God’s suggestions, it is commanded of us, it is a kingdom law. We cannot love God and disregard the poor, Mathew 25 makes that clear for us. There are numerous scriptures that call us to love and reach out to the poor.

1 Jn. 3:17 “If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

Is.58:6-7 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter; when you see the naked to clothe him and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

James 1:27 “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

Micah 6:8 “..What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

The Lord requires us to act justly, and to love mercy—both of these require intentional action. 

Anointed to “Go” to the Poor

Not only does God send us out, but he has anointed us with everything that we need to get the job done. 

Is.61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners…”

God’s spirit is on us, we are anointed to carry this beautiful message of good news to the poor. Most people feel overwhelmed by the needs of the poor, and only offer pity. But as believers, we come bearing good news. For our God is the God that heals the broken, feeds the hungry, sets the lonely in families, and he loves to use us to do it. As believers we do not have to feel overwhelmed by the needs of the poor, for God has placed in us the kingdom that overcomes and transforms.   We have been given the beautiful calling of partnering with Jesus to alleviate suffering and to bring good news. We do this because Jesus first loved us, and the love of God is in us. It is never the will of God for people to stay poor, or for people to suffer. He is a God who provides for the needs of his children. There is a blessing that comes from being “poor in spirit”—when we live in dependency on Christ. But it’s the desire of the Good Father to bless all of his children and to see their needs cared for. In this, we must rise up and advocate for the poor, be a voice for the voiceless, and be extravagant in our love both in word and deed.

Children at Risk

The term “children at risk” is a commonly used phrase to refer to children in need, or poor children. The majority of the poor today, are children. First of all, over half of the earth’s population is children and two out of three of those children live in dire poverty. According to the latest statistics over 70% of all refugees world-wide are children under the age of 15. Because children comprise the majority of today’s poor, it is vital that we be intentional in bringing good news to children. The Lord grieves over their situation and it is most urgent that as friends of God we partner with him for the young. Never before has it been so vital that we rise in our anointing and carry good news to the poor, our children. Believers everywhere should be actively pursing ministry to poor children, the poor are amongst us and we cannot ignore their cry.

Jennifer Toledo, 6/11/2006