Caring for the Poor
Open Your Bible
Deuteronomy 14:22-29, Deuteronomy 15:1-23, Deuteronomy 16:1-17, Luke 4:14-21
BY Seana Scott
Mom lived with her three younger siblings in a shanty in the 1950s. Their dad left. The cupboards lay bare while Grandma lay ill with a serious sickness. Mom fended for her family by harvesting grass from the overgrown yard to make soup. The kids rarely bathed (no plumbing), and she curled her fingers into the palms of her hands to hide the layered dirt. When the school bus stopped at Tibbetts Wick Road, she walked the aisle, down the metal stairs, and out the accordion glass doors, wishing she lived anywhere else.
The next-door neighbor took notice of the hungry children. She invited Mom to clean her small home in exchange for vegetables from her garden and chocolate chip cookies freshly made from her oven. Her generosity filled starving stomachs.
This, I think, is the heart of the teaching in Deuteronomy 15. My mom’s neighbor opened her hand willingly to the poor in her land (Deuteronomy 15:11). She offered the yield of her plot—as small as it was—and allowed my mom to glean from the first of her produce. Granted, Mom “worked” for the carrots and cookies, but the amount of food far exceeded the amount of her work.
I hope I share as easily, but in all honesty, it can feel uncomfortable extending our hands openly. Sometimes I wonder, Will we have enough? Shouldn’t we save for the future? How much should we give anyway?
The beauty about God’s instructions to the Israelites in Deuteronomy is He leaves the questioning out. They know what to do—God spelled it out in the gift of the Law. He offered the Israelites specific measurements, seasons, and times to offer openly to the poor. He even declared that if the Israelites obeyed Him, God would bless the work of their hands (Deuteronomy 15:4-6, Deuteronomy 15:10, Deuteronomy 15:18). If they trusted and obeyed God, a blessing in and of itself, God would further reward them.
I wish we knew with such specific clarity in the New Testament about how exactly to extend our hands to the poor—with the guarantee of God’s blessings in return. But what we do have is an invitation to be a part of Jesus’s work on earth. He is the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah 61 to “preach good news to the poor…to set free the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18–19). We may not have the same specific times and measurements, but we do have the heart of these laws—to open our hand willingly—and the heart of our Savior to bring the good news to the poor.
Are we willing, or are we not willing? Are we hoarding, or are we extending? Generosity demonstrates our gratitude for God’s current provision and our trust for His future blessing. Even if our plot is small with just a few carrots and strawberries to share, it just might mean the world to the one who receives our care—like it did for my mom.
54 thoughts on "Caring for the Poor"
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What a wonderful idea Bessie? Thank you ❤️
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I started saving 10 percent of my pay in a 401K in my 20’s after listening to a wise HR manager who advised me to start early and I won’t even miss it. My 30’s were tough but God blessed me with a wise lawyer and a fair judge so I didn’t have to take on my ex’s debt. In my 40’s I started tithing after my divorce to church and charities and for the past 14 years have lived on 80 percent of my salary. Dave Ramsey calls it the 10/10/80 system. I am teaching my 18 year old daughter the same thing – well trying to All my child support went to my daughters day care and Christian school tuition but I still always had enough! Just want to encourage others. Samaritan’s purse, the Salvation Army, Christian food banks, or a Christian radio station – don’t be afraid to step out ❤️ and be a giver.
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I’m here late today. My husband is in the hospital with more bleeding from prostate cancer radiation treatments. Please pray for him.
It has been a joy to be blessed to give to our community. It is something my husband and I sit down and figure out where the needs are and how we can help. Our biggest is my son’s rare illness. We have donated for continued research. That is not helping the poor, but the sick. I struggle with those on the corner. I read a lot of comments on not to judge. I will admit I struggle with this one. I hesitate to give to someone that is using drugs. It has changed our community. I had a pastor friend tell me that we don’t know what their situation was like that might have pushed them to the streets. We have chosen to give to the food bank or shelters instead. But I’m provoked to give a bottle of water to those in the streets and not dollars after reading some of the comments. -
” Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.”
I believe all of us have a duty to help and serve those less fortunate than us. As Christians, and as regular people, we are called to share our things with others. So, I hope we will all do just that. And respect them as well. The world would be a different place if more ppl put others first (and its not too late to change that)
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Seanna, whst a beautiful story of kindness and caring!
Prayerful that I would be the lady who opened/opens her hand to care and bless those around that need a touch of care, friendship, love, hope, grace… Jesus..
But God..
Thank you, you beautiful ladies for caring each day to come to the table with your words that often feed the heart and soul, your love that surrounds and encourages..
Thank you wrapped in love and hugs, always..❤
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I am catching up a tad..lol
DOROTHY:Glad to hear Finlay came through her op. Praising God with you!❤
JANE K:CONGRATULATIONS GRANDMA!❤
Thank you Lord for the safe arrival of this special gift to this family. And, thank you Lord that both mama and baba are doing well.TRACI GENDRON ❤
ERB:Continuing to hold you up in prayer.. thankful for things looking up… but will keep praying for strength, energy and the tiredness to go, in Jesus’name.. Amen!❤
VICTORIA E: Praying God continues to bless this beautiful journey you and yours are on..❤
SHARON JERSEY GIRL:Blessings.❤
VICTORIA FOWLKES:❤
CLAIRE B:How’s the shoulder? Hoping much, much improved! Stilling praying, much love..always.❤
SARAH JOY:Re the churches in Africa and the joyful way they offer, ’tis true, absolutely true! I’ve seen it with mine own eyes! It took over 2 hours, as they called people up according to the day of the week you were born.. beautiful to see!❤
MELANIE: PRAYING!❤
KELLY:❤
SEARCHING: I Love you Sister!❤
BLESSED BETH: Glad to journey with you!❤
FOSTER MAMA: YOU rock! Thanking God for your beautiful heart..❤
And to ALL, BLESSINGS from across the pond wrapped as always in love!❤
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Hi Lorna, I used to worry what my donation at a light would be used for and then I decided it wasn’t my job to decide it’s use. Sometimes instead of money I might give granola bars or such. My husband will go pickup a hot coffee and donut to drop off. One day he ran in the house to ask if I would pack a sandwich and fill one of many extra water bottle s we had to bring to someone. Sitting at those lights can be really hard.
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