Bible verses about poverty and generosity (2024)

FAQs

What does the Bible say about being generous to the poor? ›

10) Proverbs 19:17

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.

In Luke 6:38 Jesus says, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full.” You won't have less, is what He's saying. “Pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.

Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 22:9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. Proverbs 22:16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

This is a theory to encourage people to be generous. It encourages people to give more and expect no return. It say that people who give are blessed many times over. If one is a giver then such a person does not lack in love and caring.

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.

“…But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” (Luke 14:13-14).

Jesus cared deeply about the poor and the downtrodden, demonstrating his compassion in tangible ways: giving sight to the blind, touching the leper, healing the sick. But he also preached the good news of God's love and salvation. Being on Jesus' side means doing it all.

“Looking at his disciples, he said: 'Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. '”

What Bible verses talk about poverty? ›

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full” (Proverbs 19:17). “If one shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered” (Proverbs 21:13). “Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself, and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss” (Proverbs 22:16).

Proverbs 28:27

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This seems the most familiar version of the golden rule, highlighting its helpful and proactive gold standard.

You get what you give

You give a little, you get a little. You give a lot, you get a lot. To be honest, it's that simple. So these two scriptures confirm it: Luke 6:38 and 2 Corinthians 9:6.

Luke 12:33-34 (NIV)

“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Luke 14:12-14

13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” Jesus doesn't just call us to serve those in poverty, but to engage with and live in community with them.

PROVERBS 19:17

“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Sometimes we need a little extra incentive to remind ourselves to be generous.

The Bible clearly illustrates how Christians are to respond to the poor and hopeless. Jesus says, “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you,” in Matthew 5:42, and in James it says, “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.