Title: "Who should help the poor? " Author: Unknown
Who should help the poor? Who should help those who can not afford medical insurance or can not buy medical insurance because of a pre-existing condition? I tried to get insurance but was denied coverage on my back and right kidney and liver, because I was honest and told them I had pain on my right side.
Does God care about the poor? Below I've listed many many verses from the New Testament that show that God does care about the poor.
Jesus said in Matthew 5 verse 42, Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Paul in 1 Timothy 6:17-18 commands those who are rich to be generous and help the poor. Paul says, 17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
James in James 2:6 points out that it is the rich who take advantage of the poor when he says, But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court?
Jesus in Matthew 20:15 tells a parable about a rich man who chooses to pay the poor worker more than his fair share. Jesus says, Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' Jesus points out that being generous is more important than being fair. The Republican Party says it is not fair that the rich should be taxed to help the poor. They call this a redistribution of wealth. And yet God commands the rich to help the poor.
Do we pass laws to enforce other commandments God has given us? Yes. God commands us, Do not murder, and so we pass laws to make sure people don't murder. God commands us, Do not steal and so we pass laws to make it wrong to steal.
So we as Christians try and legislate the morality that God commands of us in the Bible. So why then do we call it communism when someone wants to tax the rich in order to have money to help the poor? (Not to mention that it is hypocritical that Republicans say we shouldn't help the poor and yet they help the rich Wall Street institutions and insurance companies and banks)
Who should help the poor?
We know individuals do not help the poor to the extent needed.
We know the church does not help the poor. Less than five percent of the offerings collected in church go outside the walls of the church and most of that goes to missions.
The reason God is allowing the Democrats to win this election of 2008 is because people know in their hearts that the right thing to do is for the government to care about the poor.
Did you know it is only because of government regulation of the healthcare industry, that medical costs are high?
Yes, if there were no government regulation in medicine, medical care would be inexpensive. Why? Because you could be a doctor and I could be a doctor and every church could setup their own hospital.
Yes that is the way it used to be many years ago. That is why even today we have the remains of the church hospitals - the Methodist hospitals, Baptist hospitals, Presbyterian hospitals, Catholic hospitals. I remember my mother-in-law telling me that the best doctor in Falfurrias Texas in the 1900's was not licensed.
So without government intervention doctors would not need to be licensed, and any charity could set up their own hospital and so there would be inexpensive medical care available for the poor and for the middle class.
But the government stepped in to protect its citizens, by requiring that doctors and nurses be licensed, and by requiring that drugs be tested and proven safe, and requiring that hospitals meet certain standards and so the cost of healthcare has gone up way up.
The cost of healthcare has gone so far up that average citizens can not afford it. So the government has created the high cost of healthcare to protect its citizens who can afford it. Since the government has caused the high cost of health care don't you think the government shares a responsibility to try and help its citizens who can not afford healthcare?
Remember, our government represents, we the people. Our government does things for our society that are important to us as individuals but that we as an individual can not do. If something is important to us, and yet we as an individual are not capable of doing it, then we the people, have the option to ask our government to consider doing it for our society.
And so if we care about the poor, and we know no one is going to help the poor, and we know God cares about the poor, then shouldn't we ask our government to help the poor?
I'm not talking about government hand outs that can be abused. But rather I'm talking about reforming the Republican platform and take out the part that says it is not the government's job to help individuals. Let's change the Republican platform to say it is the government's job to help the poor, but with programs that are abuse-proof. Then and only then, will we stand a chance against the Democrats in the future. God cares about the poor and God is using the Democrats to help the poor, because the Republicans are on the wrong side of the issue.
In the Bible God commanded the rich to be generous and help the poor. So why do we as Christians and Republicans condemn the Democrats who want to tax the rich to help the poor and middle class? Isn't this just what God commanded in 1 Timothy 6:17-18 ?
Instead the Republicans give tax breaks to the rich. For example, if my dad left me 10 million dollars and I make $100,000.00 each year investing in the stock market, why should I get a capital gains break and pay no taxes when you, who did not get a 10 million dollar inheritance, you work with your hands and you make $100,000.00 per year and you have to pay taxes? It is not fair to give tax breaks to the rich and tax the poor.
Here are some more verses from the New Testament related to the rich and related to being generous with the poor.
Acts 10:2
He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
Romans 12:8
if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
2 Corinthians 9:5
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to visit you in advance and finish the arrangements for the generous gift you had promised. Then it will be ready as a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given.
2 Corinthians 9:6
[ Sowing Generously ] Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Matthew 19:23
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:24
Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Mark 10:23
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
Mark 10:25
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 6:24
"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Luke 8:14
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Luke 12:21
"This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
Luke 16:11
So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?
Luke 18:24
Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
Luke 18:25
Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
2 Corinthians 8:2
Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.
2 Corinthians 9:11
You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
1 Timothy 6:9
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
James 1:10
But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
James 1:11
For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.
James 2:5
Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
James 5:1
[ Warning to Rich Oppressors ] Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.