1. Attitudes Toward the Poor
Compassion

2. Proverbs 22:1 & 2
“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.”
Compassion

3. Proverbs 22:7-9
“7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. 8 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed. 9 A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.” (NIV)
Compassion

4. Proverbs 22:22-23
“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who plunder them.”
Compassion

5. James 2:1-17
Compassion

6. Definition of the Poor:
Someone who is struggling to meet the minimum needs of life: Food, clothing, health care, and shelter
Webster: Having little or no money, goods, or other means of support.
Our congregation is economically diverse. It includes the needy as well as the wealthy.
Waiters and waitresses ranked 250 of 250 on a salary scale at $14,086 Dishwashers were 249th at $14,112
Minimum wage at 40 hours for 52 weeks is 11,752
Compassion

7. Discernment “Does this include everyone who makes a request for help?”
“Am I obligated to help everyone who squanders their opportunities or mismanages their life?”
Compassion

8. True Poverty Third World People Homeless Compassion

9. Observations Long life and limited resources can make a person needy.
Poor health can make us needy.
One family here spends $12,000 a year on medicine.
Compassion

10. Wrong Attitudes Toward the Poor
Take advantage of them.
Look down on them.
Blame them.
Coddle them? - No
Help them? - Yes
Wrong Attitudes Toward the Poor
Take Advantage of Them
This is the specific condemnation in Proverbs 22.
Slumlords. We may be tempted to boost our egos by condemning them.
Extortionists.
Look Down on Them
Pity them.
This is the specific condemnation in James 1.
Blame them.
Sometimes we help the poor by helping them identify the case of their problems. Their problems are their own doing.
Tough love can be appropriate.
However, be very hesitant to rush to judgment.
We must help them learn better in a kind way—not condemn them.
Coddle them? No Help them? Yes.
Unrestricted giving is not appropriate.
We must demand as much accountability as they are capable of.
Compassion

11. Work To Eat
2 Thessalonians 3:10 “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
Lev 23:22 By gleaning in the fields, even the poor had to go out and pick up what was left.
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
Lev 23:22 “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’
Compassion

12. Right Attitudes Toward the Poor.
Love and help them—Jesus did!
Treat them as human equals with dignity and respect.
Leave some of our prosperity to them: “Leave the corners of the field.”
Compassion

13. How Can We Treat The Poor Properly?
Compassion

14. Don’t Oppress The Poor:
Be honest in your dealings.
Compassion

15. Treat every person with dignity.
Daily Interactions.
Treat every person with dignity.
From the phone solicitor on up.
We do not owe them their request or our time, but we do owe them decency.
Compassion

16. Our Priorities. Share with others. Compassion www.turnbacktogod.com
Do not spend all of your existence on personal advancement and pleasure.

17. Working for Justice Fair Laws and Programs.
Balance giving help and getting them to help themselves.
Some laws protect the gullible. The pay check cashing places are robbing people who do not have good judgment.
The programs are changing. People are provided transportation and child care, they are able to keep their medical card, but they are required to work.
Compassion

18. Help People Help Themselves
“Teach Them to Fish.”
Tutoring Programs
Compassion

19. Teaching Some of the Cardinal Virtues of Christianity
Accountability.
Self-control.
Dependability.
Deferred gratification
Honesty.
Hard work.
2 Thess 3:10 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8 nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”
Both Paul and Jesus were hard workers.
Compassion

20. Sharing With the Needy. Missions. Local Benevolence Programs.
The Church Pantry.
Individual Actions.
Our congregation has “Give Away Day” It is like a Yard Sale, but everything is given away. We notify area social service agencies. The advertisement read, “We only ask that you take what you need, not what you want”.
Some of our missions are both medical and preaching missions.
Individual Actions. Even a cup of cold water has value.
Compassion

21. Sharing
“At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God‑fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.” Acts 10
Compassion

22. Sharing
“3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.”
Compassion

23. Conclusion: The Story of the King and the Beggar. Compassion
SHORT VERSION: The King asked for people to come to his palace to choose his successor. As a candidate came to visit the King dressed in his fancy clothes and with fine foods for the king. On his way, the candidate met a beggar who was cold and hungry. The candidate gave his food and clothes to the beggar. When he got to the throne room dressed in ragged clothes, imagine his surprise when the man on the throne was wearing his clothes. “I knew you would be nice to the King, I had to find out if you would be good to the subjects,” said the King. One day we will meet our King.