What does the Bible say about being poor?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that poverty is a real hardship to be met with compassion, justice, and trust in God, while spiritual poverty before Him is the doorway to His kingdom. God hears the needy who cry to Him, as Psalms 34:6 and 34:17 proclaim, and He calls His people to defend and deliver the poor, as Job 29:12 shows. Proverbs warns against exploiting the poor and commends generous lending as service rendered to the Lord. Jesus teaches that no one can serve both God and money, and blesses the poor in spirit who depend upon God’s grace. Believers should therefore show mercy, practice the Golden Rule, and remember that God often chooses the lowly to display the riches of His grace.
Top passages, ranked by readers
Rankings: OpenBible.info Topical Bible (CC BY) · Scripture: World English Bible
- 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?
- Psalms 34:6
This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
- Psalms 34:17
The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
- Job 29:12
Because I delivered the poor who cried, And the fatherless also, who had none to help him.
- Proverbs 22:16
Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich, Both come to poverty.
- Proverbs 21:13
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, He will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
- Matthew 6:24
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can't serve both God and Mammon.
- Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
- Proverbs 19:17
He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; He will reward him.
- Luke 6:31
"As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.
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