Providing For The Poor

1. God commands that the covenant community provide for the basic needs of those who are poor among us (Deu 15:4, 11; Act 4:34; Pro 14:21, 31, 19:17, 28:8; Psa 37:26, 112:5).

2. God has established a third of the tithe tax and gleanings (from surplus) as the primary means and only mandatory requirements placed upon God’s people in fulfilling their obligation to care for the poor (Lev 27:30-34 w/ Num 18:24 w/Deu 14:28-29; Lev 19:9-10, 23:22; Deu 24:19-22; Ruth 2:1-7 = Notice the sq ft reserved for gleanings as well as who can participate is left to the sole discretion of each individual – see Mat 20:15; e.g. church pantry where people contribute free meat, clothing, and personal hygiene or cleaning supplies). As such:

2.1. Any other burden (including the manipulative forms of coercion often employed in churches today) placed upon the people of God as necessary to the care of the poor is theft (e.g. “the question is not how much does God require, but how much am I willing to keep for myself? ”; Exo 20:15 w/ Pro 6:30-31)

2.2. God protects the rights of private property (i.e. our possessions minus tithe and gleanings; Mat 20:15; Act 5:4)

2.3. Our P434 budget for monetary support of the poor cannot exceed 33% of the total tithe (Deu 14:28-29)

2.4. The poor (like all God’s people) must pay the tithe tax as necessary to their membership in God’s provisional insurance plan (Gen 28:20-22).

3. The purpose of caring for the poor is not the removal of their poverty but the deficit they experience in relation to basic needs (Deu 15:11). As such:

3.1. The bible condemns socialism [private property is not protected; personal wealth building is discouraged; wealth equality for the masses] and promotes capitalism [private property is protected; personal wealth building is encouraged as long as it is wise and godly; wealth is distributed based on voluntary agreement in a free, competitive market] (Exo 20:17; Mat 20:15; Ecc 5:10, 7:12, 10:19; Pro 24:3-4; Pro 23:4 w/1Ti 6:9-10, 17-19)

3.2.  God has not determined that all His people should live at the same economic level or with the same temporal blessings (e.g. Pro 22:2; Ecc 5:19).

4. The poor are those who cannot provide for basic needs (1Ti 6:8 = Literally, nourishment and covering; staple foods, simple, sufficient clothing and shelter) yet:

4.1. Are working as many jobs or hours as physically possible without discretion as to the type of work or detriment to other God-given obligations (Ecc 11:1-6; 2Th 3:6-12)

4.2. Are attempting to improve their income level through the pursuit or possession of skilled labor in a respectable field or industry (1Th 4:11-12; Pro 22:29)

4.3. Have exhausted the value of all available, non-essential personal assets or services through their sale/liquidation, cancellation or use as collateral (e.g. investments, real estate, savings accounts, retirement accounts, automobiles, recreational vehicles, stereos, televisions, other entertainment systems, jewelry, collector memorabilia, stamps or coins, livestock, etc; Lev 25:25; Exo 22:26; Deu 24:10-13)

4.4. Have exhausted other possible options of non-interest bearing support and are still in need (e.g. support from other family members working – 1Ti 5:1-16)

4.5. Are obedient to God’s command to spend responsibly (Phi 4:10-13 w/Lev 27:30-33 w/1Ti 6:8 = Tithe, then basic needs, then everything else).

“Biblical charity…never subsidizes irresponsibility” – David Chilton (Productive Christians In An Age Of Guilt Manipulators)

5. Those who are not working as required by God must demonstrate repentance (Mat 3:8-10; Act 26:20) and commit to such actions before support is considered (2Th 3:10 w/13-15; Isa 26:9-10)

6. Those who are not spending as required by God must demonstrate repentance (Mat 3:8-10; Act 26:20) and commit to such actions before support is considered (Gen 28:20-22) = Since tithi...

8. There are many today who think that the obligation to obey the Old Testament Scriptures has been removed (in part or whole) as essential to salvation for the New Covenant Christian[1]. What they fail to consider is not only the content, clarity, and consequences of Jesus’ teaching in Mat 5:17-20, but also that:

8.1. God views His OT Scriptures as remaining in force forever since they are more perfect than creation, as precious as God’s name, the very keys to abundant life and salvation (Deu 4:2, 12:34, 30:11-20, 32:45-47; Isa 40:8 w/1Pe 1:23-25 w/2Ti 3:15-16; Psa 19:7-11, 119:24, 96, 160, 138:2; Jam 1:25; Rom 7:12; Many people treat God’s OT Scriptures – esp. His Law, as no longer serving the purpose of abundant life and salvation. They instead serve only to condemn. Paul’s statements about the Law are often interpreted w/this exclusive purpose- e.g. Gal 3:10, 21; 1Ti 1:9-10[2]; the law is for our protection, and prosperity, not imprisonment)

8.2. The OT prophecies regarding the coming Messiah and New Covenant also speak about the Law as that which will be cherished by and taught to God’s people (Deu 18:15-18; Isa 2:1-5, 8:11-9:7; 42:1-4, 21; Jer 31:31-34; Eze 36:25-27; Mic 4:1-2; Mal 4:1-4)

8.3. The primary way the Bible teaches us to identify false teachers and gospels is by their rejection (in part or whole) of God’s OT Law/Scriptures as something we must observe in order to be saved (Deu 12:34-13:3 w/2Pe 2:1-3, 19-21; Jud 1:3-4; Eph 5:1-7; 1Jo 2:1-7, 2:24-3:8; Again, how most people interpret Paul, makes all FT’s in the OT the good guys – for preaching against obedience to the Law, and all God’s prophets – who preached faithfulness to the Law, the bad guys – e.g. Jer 5:4-7 w/12, 6:14-19, 7:1-23, 8:4-10, 9:1-14, 23-25, 11:1-16, 16:10-11. In this light consider then – Rom 9:30 – 10:4[3])

8.4. Rejection of (or disobedience to) God’s OT Law is the biggest reason people go to Hell (Isa 51:7-8 w/Mar 9:48 w/Luk 16:19-31; Pro 28:4 w/Rom 1:18, 31-32; Rev 21:8 – “faithless” = unfaithful to God’s OT commands/law – see Psa 119:158; Today, we are made to believe that the biggest reason people go to hell is b/c they are trying to earn their salvation[4].

8.5. Those in the first century (i.e. the time of Jesus and the Apostles) viewed as apostasy the act of covenant members becoming convinced that the OT Law was no longer necessary to salvation (Act 21:21, 28; This was true in the OT as well – Deu 29:18-20; In this light consider – Heb 10:26-29 = “dies” – Present tense = The author is assuming that the disobedience previously mentioned, is the result of deciding to “set aside the Law of Moses” by individuals in the NC. IOW: this is the “sinning deliberately” of v26. According to the author, the penalty for committing such a crime is still in force just as the Law remains in force – i.e. death. However, the deathly consequences associated w/this crime wb worse since the “witnesses” requiring such Law-abiding compliance – as well as those offended, are greater. They are “the Son of God”, “the blood of the covenant” and “the Spirit of grace”.)

8.6. Jesus and the apostles worked very hard to prove that Christianity was in compliance to the Law and the OT Scriptures (i.e. Christianity is not a new religion, but Judaism under a new covenant – Jer 31:31; Act 3:17-26. As such, nothing the NT author’s say is novel/original – Joh 7:16. If it was, then they would have rightly been rejected. The Jews rejected Jesus and Christianity, b/c they incorrectly thought it violated the OT Scriptures – especially its teaching regarding observance of the Law – e.g. Mat 12:1-2; Luk 5:21; Joh 7:25-27, 40-52, 9:16, 10:30-36; Act 6:11-13, 13:27, 21:28, 23:29, 24:5-9. In reality, however, Jesus and the Apostles were always in compliance w/the Law.

8. There are many today who think that the obligation to obey the Old Testament Scriptures has been removed (in part or whole) as essential to salvation for the New Covenant Christian[1]. What they fail to consider is not only the content, clarity and consequences of Jesus’ teaching in Mat 5:17-20, but also that:

8.1. God views His OT Scriptures as remaining in force forever since they are more perfect than creation, as precious as God’s name, the very keys to abundant life and salvation (Deu 4:2, 12:34, 30:11-20, 32:45-47; Isa 40:8 w/1Pe 1:23-25 w/2Ti 3:15-16; Psa 19:7-11, 119:24, 96, 160, 138:2; Jam 1:25; Rom 7:12; Many people treat God’s OT Scriptures – esp. His Law, as no longer serving the purpose of abundant life and salvation. They instead serve only to condemn. Paul’s stmts about the Law are often interpreted w/this exclusive purpose- e.g. Gal 3:10, 21; 1Ti 1:9-10[2]; the law is for our protection and prosperity not imprisonment)

8.2. The OT prophecies regarding the coming Messiah and New Covenant also speak about the Law as that which will be cherished by and taught to God’s people (Deu 18:15-18; Isa 2:1-5, 8:11-9:7; 42:1-4, 21; Jer 31:31-34; Eze 36:25-27; Mic 4:1-2; Mal 4:1-4)

8.3. The primary way the Bible teaches us to identify false teachers and gospels is by their rejection (in part or whole) of God’s OT Law/Scriptures as something we must observe in order to be saved (Deu 12:34-13:3 w/2Pe 2:1-3, 19-21; Jud 1:3-4; Eph 5:1-7; 1Jo 2:1-7, 2:24-3:8; Again, how most people interpret Paul, makes all FT’s in the OT the good guys – for preaching against obedience to the Law, and all God’s prophets – who preached faithfulness to the Law, the bad guys – e.g. Jer 5:4-7 w/12, 6:14-19, 7:1-23, 8:4-10, 9:1-14, 23-25, 11:1-16, 16:10-11. In this light consider then – Rom 9:30 – 10:4[3])

8.4. Rejection of (or disobedience to) God’s OT Law is the biggest reason people go to Hell (Isa 51:7-8 w/Mar 9:48 w/Luk 16:19-31; Pro 28:4 w/Rom 1:18, 31-32; Rev 21:8 – “faithless” = unfaithful to God’s OT commands/law – see Psa 119:158; Today, we are made to believe that the biggest reason people go to hell is b/c they are trying to earn their salvation[4].

8.5. Those in the first century (i.e. the time of Jesus and the Apostles) viewed as apostasy the act of covenant members becoming convinced that the OT Law was no longer necessary to salvation (Act 21:21, 28; This was true in the OT as well – Deu 29:18-20; In this light consider – Heb 10:26-29 = “dies” – Present tense = The author is assuming that the disobedience previously mentioned, is the result of deciding to “set aside the Law of Moses” by individuals in the NC. IOW: this is the “sinning deliberately” of v26. According to the author, the penalty for committing such a crime is still in force just as the Law remains in force – i.e. death. However, the deathly consequences associated w/this crime wb worse since the “witnesses” requiring such Law-abiding compliance – as well as those offended, are greater. They are “the Son of God”, “the blood of the covenant” and “the Spirit of grace”.)

8.6. Jesus and the apostles worked very hard to prove that Christianity was in compliance to the Law and the OT Scriptures (i.e. Christianity is not a new religion, but Judaism under a new covenant – Jer 31:31; Act 3:17-26. As such, nothing the NT author’s say is novel/original – Joh 7:16. If it was, then they would have rightly been rejected. The Jews rejected Jesus and Christianity, b/c they incorrectly thought it violated the OT Scriptures – especially its teaching regarding observance of the Law – e.g. Mat 12:1-2; Luk 5:21; Joh 7:25-27, 40-52, 9:16, 10:30-36; Act 6:11-13, 13:27, 21:28, 23:29, 24:5-9. In reality however, Jesus and the Apostles were always in compliance w/the Law.

8. There are many today who think that the obligation to obey the Old Testament Scriptures has been removed (in part or whole) as essential to salvation for the New Covenant Christian[1]. What they fail to consider is not only the content, clarity and consequences of Jesus’ teaching in Mat 5:17-20, but also that:

8.1. God views His OT Scriptures as remaining in force forever since they are more perfect than creation, as precious as God’s name, the very keys to abundant life and salvation (Deu 4:2, 12:34, 30:11-20, 32:45-47; Isa 40:8 w/1Pe 1:23-25 w/2Ti 3:15-16; Psa 19:7-11, 119:24, 96, 160, 138:2; Jam 1:25; Rom 7:12; Many people treat God’s OT Scriptures – esp. His Law, as no longer serving the purpose of abundant life and salvation. They instead serve only to condemn. Paul’s stmts about the Law are often interpreted w/this exclusive purpose- e.g. Gal 3:10, 21; 1Ti 1:9-10[2])

8.2. The OT prophecies regarding the coming Messiah and New Covenant also speak about the Law as that which will be cherished by and taught to God’s people (Deu 18:15-18; Isa 2:1-5, 8:11-9:7; 42:1-4, 21; Jer 31:31-34; Eze 36:25-27; Mic 4:1-2; Mal 4:1-4)

 

8.3. The primary way the Bible teaches us to identify false teachers and gospels is by their rejection (in part or whole) of God’s OT Law/Scriptures as something we must observe in order to be saved (Deu 12:34-13:3 w/2Pe 2:1-3, 19-21; Jud 1:3-4; Eph 5:1-7; 1Jo 2:1-7, 2:24-3:8; Again, how most people interpret Paul, makes all FT’s in the OT the good guys – for preaching against obedience to the Law, and all God’s prophets – who preached faithfulness to the Law, the bad guys – e.g. Jer 5:4-7 w/12, 6:14-19, 7:1-23, 8:4-10, 9:1-14, 23-25, 11:1-16, 16:10-11. In this light consider then – Rom 9:30 – 10:4[3])

8.4. Rejection of (or disobedience to) God’s OT Law is the biggest reason people go to Hell (Isa 51:7-8 w/Mar 9:48 w/Luk 16:19-31; Pro 28:4 w/Rom 1:18, 31-32; Rev 21:8 – “faithless” = unfaithful to God’s OT commands/law – see Psa 119:158; Today, we are made to believe that the biggest reason people go to hell is b/c they are trying to earn their salvation[4].

8.5. Those in the first century (i.e. the time of Jesus and the Apostles) viewed as apostasy the act of covenant members becoming convinced that the OT Law was no longer necessary to salvation (Act 21:21, 28; This was true in the OT as well – Deu 29:18-20; In this light consider – Heb 10:26-29 = “dies” – Present tense = The author is assuming that the disobedience previously mentioned, is the result of deciding to “set aside the Law of Moses” by individuals in the NC. IOW: this is the “sinning deliberately” of v26. According to the author, the penalty for committing such a crime is still in force just as the Law remains in force – i.e. death. However, the deathly consequences associated w/this crime wb worse since the “witnesses” requiring such Law-abiding compliance – as well as those offended, are greater. They are “the Son of God”, “the blood of the covenant” and “the Spirit of grace”.)

[1] As discussed this is the majority position today. It has many supporting scholars/theologians including some from the Reformation: “The Law and the Decalogue has no right to accuse and terrify the conscience in which Christ reigns through grace, for Christ has made this right obsolete.” -Martin Luther; “In the new era the…good news of salvation/restoration in Christ has displaced the …law as the foundational guide to community life.” – Roy Ciampa; “Believers in Christ do not find God’s will through the law; are not instructed through the law; and are not obliged to obey the law” – Brian Rosner. It is relevant to note that Dr. Rosner’s very recent work on the Law (Paul and the Law,

How we realize blessing or abundance in our financial future.

Psalm 37:1-11,18-28 w/ Psalm 127:1-2

There are conditions to receiving God’s blessings:

* You are obedient to all that God commands.

* You have a realistic plan of how to get there.

* You live within your means.