-
Deuteronomy 15:7-10
Suppose someone is poor among you. And suppose they live in one of the towns in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Then don’t be mean to them. They are poor. So don’t hold back money from them.Instead, open your hands and lend them what they need. Do it freely.Be careful not to have an evil thought in your mind. Don’t say to yourself,“ The seventh year will soon be here. It’s the year for forgiving people what they owe.” If you think like that, you might treat the needy people among you badly. You might not give them anything. Then they might make their appeal to the Lord against you. And he will find you guilty of sin.So give freely to needy people. Let your heart be tender toward them. Then the Lord your God will bless you in all your work. He will bless you in everything you do.
-
2 Corinthians 9 6-2 Corinthians 9 14
Here is something to remember. The one who plants only a little will gather only a little. And the one who plants a lot will gather a lot.Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You shouldn’t give if you don’t want to. You shouldn’t give because you are forced to. God loves a cheerful giver.And God is able to shower all kinds of blessings on you. So in all things and at all times you will have everything you need. You will do more and more good works.It is written,“ They have spread their gifts around to poor people. Their good works continue forever.”( Psalm 112:9)God supplies seed for the person who plants. He supplies bread for food. God will also supply and increase the amount of your seed. He will increase the results of your good works.You will be made rich in every way. Then you can always give freely. We will take your many gifts to the people who need them. And they will give thanks to God.Your gifts meet the needs of the Lord’s people. And that’s not all. Your gifts also cause many people to thank God.You have shown yourselves to be worthy by what you have given. So other people will praise God because you obey him. That proves that you really believe the good news about Christ. They will also praise God because you share freely with them and with everyone else.Their hearts will be filled with love for you when they pray for you. God has given you grace that is better than anything.
-
2 Corinthians 8 9
You know the grace shown by our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though he was rich, he became poor to help you. Because he became poor, you can become rich.
-
Matthew 6:12
And forgive us our sins, just as we also have forgiven those who sin against us.
-
Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that we must work hard and help the weak. We must remember the words of the Lord Jesus. He said,‘ It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
-
Proverbs 21:26
All day long they hunger for more. But godly people give without holding back.
-
Exodus 22:26-27
Suppose your neighbor owes you money and gives you a coat as a promise to pay it back. Then return it by sunset.That coat is the only thing your neighbor owns to wear or sleep in. When they cry out to me, I will listen, because I am loving and kind.
-
Matthew 18:27-30
His master felt sorry for him. He forgave him what he owed and let him go.“ But then that servant went out and found one of the other servants who owed him 100 silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him.‘ Pay back what you owe me!’ he said.“ The other servant fell on his knees.‘ Give me time,’ he begged him.‘ I’ll pay it back.’“ But the first servant refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison. The man would be held there until he could pay back what he owed.
-
Proverbs 11:24-25
One person gives freely but gets even richer. Another person doesn’t give what they should but gets even poorer.Anyone who gives a lot will succeed. Anyone who renews others will be renewed.
-
Ephesians 4:28
Anyone who has been stealing must never steal again. Instead, they must work. They must do something useful with their own hands. Then they will have something to give to people in need.
-
Nehemiah 5:1-19
Some men and their wives cried out against their Jewish brothers and sisters.Some of them were saying,“ There are now many of us. We have many sons and daughters. We have to get some grain so we can eat and stay alive.”Others were saying,“ We’re being forced to sell our fields, vineyards and homes. We have to do it to buy grain. There isn’t enough food for everyone.”Still others were saying,“ We’ve had to borrow money. We needed it to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.We belong to the same family lines as the rest of our people. Our children are as good as theirs. But we’ve had to sell them off as slaves. Some of our daughters have already been made slaves. But we can’t do anything about it. That’s because our fields and vineyards now belong to others.”I heard them when they cried out. And I was very angry when I heard what they were saying.I thought it over for a while. Then I accused the nobles and officials of breaking the law. I told them,“ You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large group of people to handle the matter.I said,“ Our Jewish brothers and sisters were sold to other nations. We’ve done everything we could to buy them back and bring them home. But look at what you are doing! You are actually selling your own people! Now we’ll have to buy them back too!” The people kept quiet. They couldn’t think of anything to say.So I continued,“ What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you show respect for our God? Shouldn’t you live in a way that will keep our enemies from saying bad things about us?I’m lending the people money and grain. So are my relatives and my men. But we must stop charging interest!Give the people’s fields back to them. Give them back their vineyards, olive groves and houses. Do it right away. Give everything back to them. Also give them back the one percent on the money, grain, fresh wine and olive oil you have charged them.”“ We’ll give it back,” they said.“ And we won’t require anything more from them. We’ll do exactly as you say.” Then I sent for the priests. I made the nobles and officials promise to do what they had said.I also shook out my pockets and emptied them. I said,“ Someone might decide not to keep this promise they have made. If that happens, may God shake them out of their house! May he empty them of everything they own!” The whole community said,“ Amen.” They praised the Lord. And the leaders did what they had promised to do.And that’s not all. I was appointed as governor of Judah in the 20th year that Artaxerxes was king of Persia. I remained in that position until his 32nd year. During those 12 years, I and my relatives didn’t eat the food that was provided for my table.But there had been governors before me. They had put a heavy load on the people. They had taken a pound of silver from each of them. They had also taken food and wine from them. Their officials had acted like high and mighty rulers over them. But because of my great respect for God, I didn’t act like that.Instead, I spent all my time working on this wall. All my men were gathered there to work on it too. We didn’t receive any land for ourselves.Many people ate at my table. They included 150 Jews and officials. They also included leaders who came to us from the nations that were around us.Each day one ox, six of the best sheep and some birds were prepared for me. Every ten days plenty of wine of all kinds was brought in as well. In spite of all that, I never asked for the food that was provided for my table. That’s because the people were already paying too many taxes.You are my God. Please remember me and help me. Keep in mind everything I’ve done for these people.
-
Psalms 112:9
They have spread their gifts around to poor people. Their good works continue forever. They will be powerful and honored.
-
Proverbs 22:9
Those who give freely will be blessed. That’s because they share their food with those who are poor.
-
Luke 18:22
When Jesus heard this, he said to him,“ You are still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.”
-
Psalms 41:1
Blessed are those who care about weak people. When they are in trouble, the Lord saves them.
-
Proverbs 19:17
Anyone who is kind to poor people lends to the Lord. God will reward them for what they have done.
-
Matthew 18:35
“ This is how my Father in heaven will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
-
Ecclesiastes 8:16
I used my mind to understand what it really means to be wise. I wanted to observe the hard work people do on earth. They don’t close their eyes and go to sleep day or night.
-
Luke 12:33
Sell what you own. Give to those who are poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. Store up riches in heaven that will never be used up. There, no thief can come near it. There, no moth can destroy it.
-
Ezekiel 11:1-2
Then the Spirit of the Lord lifted me up. He brought me to the east gate of the Lord’ s house. There were 25 men at the entrance of the gate. I saw Jaazaniah and Pelatiah among them. They were leaders of the people. Jaazaniah is the son of Azzur. Pelatiah is the son of Benaiah.The Lord said to me,“ Son of man, these men are making evil plans. They are giving bad advice to the city.
-
Proverbs 3:27-28
Don’t hold back good from those who are worthy of it. Don’t hold it back when you can help.Suppose you already have something to give. Don’t say to your neighbor,“ Come back tomorrow. I’ll give it to you then.”
-
Luke 6:38
Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount will be poured into your lap. It will be pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The same amount you give will be measured out to you.”
-
Matthew 5:42-48
Give to the one who asks you for something. Don’t turn away from the one who wants to borrow something from you.“ You have heard that it was said,‘ Love your neighbor.( Leviticus 19:18) Hate your enemy.’But here is what I tell you. Love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you.Then you will be children of your Father who is in heaven. He causes his sun to shine on evil people and good people. He sends rain on those who do right and those who don’t.If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Even the tax collectors do that.If you greet only your own people, what more are you doing than others? Even people who are ungodly do that.So be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
-
Luke 11:41
Give freely to poor people to show what is inside you. Then everything will be clean for you.
-
Isaiah 58:7-10
Share your food with hungry people. Provide homeless people with a place to stay. Give naked people clothes to wear. Provide for the needs of your own family.Then the light of my blessing will shine on you like the rising sun. I will heal you quickly. I will march out ahead of you. And my glory will follow behind you and guard you. That’s because I always do what is right.You will call out to me for help. And I will answer you. You will cry out. And I will say,‘ Here I am.’“ Get rid of the chains you use to hold others down. Stop pointing your finger at others as if they had done something wrong. Stop saying harmful things about them.Work hard to feed hungry people. Satisfy the needs of those who are crushed. Then my blessing will light up your darkness. And the night of your suffering will become as bright as the noonday sun.
