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What does the Bible say?

"This was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess food and prosperous ease but did not aid the poor and needy." (Ezekiel 16:49

"There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the needy people in your land." (Deuteronomy 15:11)

"...the survivors are in great trouble and shame (exposed because) their wall is broken down, and gates destroyed...when I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days, fasting and praying..." (Nehemiah 1:3-6a)

"...you see the trouble we are in...Come, let us rebuild...then they said, 'let us start rebuilding,' so they committed themselves to the common good." (Nehemiah 2:17)

"Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who are kind to the needy honor him." (Proverbs 14:31)

"Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not hide yourself from your kind? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly." (Isaiah 58:6-8)

"...if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness...you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in." (Isaiah 58:10-12)

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:16) 

"...the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them." (Matthew 11:5)

"Peace...don't be afraid." (Mark 4:35-41)

"But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. And you will be blessed becasue they cannot repay you." (Luke 14:13-14)

"How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need yet refuses to help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action." (1 John 3:17-18)

More Bible Texts 

• Matthew 22:37-40 : The Great Commandment
• Matthew 25:31-40 : When you serve the poor, you serve Jesus.
• Mark 12:41-44 : The widow’s small gift was important
• Luke 16:19-31 : The parable of Lazarus and the rich man
• Acts 15:25-27 : Macedonia helps Jerusalem
• Micah 4:1-5 : The end of war and return to farming
• Micah 6:8 : Here is what the Lord really wants