What Does the Bible Say About Poverty?
List by Ami Hendrickson
“The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head,” Jesus said (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58). Jesus’ example and ministry made it clear that God’s love embraces the poorest of His children.
Faith enriches the poor
James 2:5
Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn’t God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?
Poverty is not a crime
Proverbs 22:22
Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court.
God notices how I treat the poor
Proverbs 17:5
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
God is the hope of the poor
Job 5:15-16
But he saves from the sword of their mouth, even the needy from the hand of the mighty. So the poor has hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
Poverty will always exist somewhere on earth
Mark 14:7
For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want to, you can do them good; but you will not always have me.
God remembers the poor
Psalm 9:18
For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever.
