Refocus, Part 4

Part 4 – The Least of These
Various Scriptures

June 5, 2022
Juan Carlos Heredia – Pastor of Spanish Ministries 

Indifference to poverty dehumanizes others and ends up dehumanizing us. 

God takes personally how we treat those in poverty. 

• Proverbs 19:17  Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will give a reward to the lender.

• Matthew 25:35-36  “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.”

• Matthew 25:37-39  Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’

• Matthew 25:40  “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

What does the Bible say about poverty?

• Poverty is ultimately the result of a fallen world.

• Poverty is not necessarily a sign of blessedness or sinfulness.

• Poverty is usually attributed to people’s actions rather than God’s actions.

• It may be the result of laziness.

Proverbs 6:10, 11  A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, 11 and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.

• It may be the consequence of seeking pleasure.

Proverbs 21:17  The one who loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and oil will not get rich. 

• It may be due to acting foolishly.

Proverbs 13:18  Poverty and disgrace come to those who ignore discipline, but the one who accepts correction will be honored.

• It may be caused by others.

Jeremiah 22:13  Woe for the one who builds his palace through unrighteousness, his upstairs rooms through injustice, who makes his neighbor serve without pay and will not give him his wages…

What is your responsibility towards the poor?

• Loving God will always lead to caring for those in need.

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God the Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

• Generosity should be a staple of your Christianity. 

James 2:15, 16  If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?

• Partiality towards a few is a sin, but dignity for all is a duty. 

James 2:2-4  For if someone comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and a poor person dressed in filthy clothes also comes in, 3 if you look with favor on the one wearing the fine clothes and say, “Sit here in a good place,” and yet you say to the poor person, “Stand over there,” or “Sit here on the floor by my footstool,” 4 haven’t you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Additional Resources

Hilltop of Hope (hilltopofhope.com)

Hope Justice Center (sugarcreek.net/hope-justice)

Living Water International (water.cc)

Second Mile Mission Center (secondmile.org)