Why should we care about the poor?

Key Questions -
1. How many of you would like to have a relatively happy life?
2. How many of you would like your life to be an act of worship?
3. How many of you would like to keep a reasonably solid financial portfolio?
4. How many of you would be thankful if God listened to your cries for help?

“If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise anyone.” -Proverbs 14:21 (GNT)

“If you oppress (or mistreat) poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.” -Proverbs 14:31 (GNT)

“Giving to the poor will keep you from poverty, but if you close your eyes to their needs, everyone will curse you.” -Proverbs 28:27 (CEV)

"Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." -Psalm 82:4 (ESV)

“Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.” -Proverbs 11:25 (GNT)

**God is basically saying, if you take care of my children, I’ll take care of your children.

“If you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor, your own cry for help will not be heard.” -Proverbs 21:13 (GNT)

Listening to others emphasizes their value. When you listen to someone, you are saying, “You matter to me.”
22,000 children a day die of dirty water or hunger related issues. The entire health budget of Ethiopia, a country of 105 million people, is equivalent to just 1% of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos fortune. 750,000,000 people around the world live on less than 1.90 a day.

“The crowd asked, “What should we do?” John replied, “If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.” -Luke 3:10-11 (NLT)

“Caring for the poor is lending to the Lord, and you will be well repaid.” -Proverbs 19:17 (CET)

So…Why should we care about the poor?
1. Because God cares about poor.
2. Because God is an advocate for the poor.
3. Because every person on the planet is valuable to God.
- Big Idea - Where someone lives should not determine whether they live or die.
4. Because we were poor, and God graciously gave to us.

“Suppose someone has enough to live and sees a brother or sister in need but does not help. Then God’s love is not living in that person. My children, we should love people not only with words and talk, but by our actions and true caring.” -I John 3:17-18 (NCV)

What is God asking you to do? God’s prompting + Obedience = The Miraculous