What Does the Bible Say About Giving to the Poor? (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

What does the bible say about giving to the poor? Read or listen to this material from Your Finances God’s Way to learn about the scriptures on taking care of the poor. Table of ContentsA Better Approach When Giving to the PoorA Command Versus SuggestionA Good Example to FollowGood Stewards Support Their Church LeadersDistinguishing Between Two GroupsGiving to the Poor Who Are Unable to WorkGiving to the Poor Who Are Unwilling to WorkDetriment One: Wastes MoneyDetriment Two: Hinders RepentanceDetriment Three: Enables Further SinDetriment Four: Prevents ShameKeep Doing Good Growing up, I became friends with a boy my age who lived in a trailer park. As we got to know each other, I noticed his parents were always home. I thought dads woke up and, most days, went to work. Then they came home in the evening. That’s what my dad and the other dads I knew did. I projected that expectation on my friend’s father and was surprised when this wasn’t true. Once, he invited me into his parents’ little trailer, where they played Nintendo. When we left, he said, “That’s what my parents do.” That seemed to be about all they did, along with eating and sleeping. I never even saw them go outside. Because this was before I knew what welfare was, I wondered how they had money for living expenses. There has been much debate about our society's responsibility to the unemployed, uninsured, and uneducated. Many people affected by economic downturns or other unfortunate circumstances desire to work but can’t find employment. On the other side of the spectrum are those who have become generational welfare recipients, preferring to remain on the government dole. How should we, as Christians, respond to these scenarios? A Better Approach When Giving to the Poor Under the Mosaic law, the welfare system in Israel instructed farmers, “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 23:22; See also Leviticus 19:9 and Deuteronomy 24:19). Our government gives people handouts that require little more than standing in line or walking to a mailbox to collect a check. I believe God’s approach was better for two reasons: It provided for the poor by encouraging those capable of being productive to be generous. This stands in contrast to the redistribution of wealth that our nation promotes, taking from those with more to give to those with less. It required effort from the poor. God did not tell farmers to harvest everything and give it to the poor. Instead, He told farmers to leave enough for the poor to gather. Work gives people a sense of purpose, productivity, and dignity, which is why involving the needy in the process benefits them. Ruth showed the beauty of this approach. She asked Naomi, whom she was caring for, “Please let me go to the field, and glean heads of grain after him in whose sight I may find favor” (Ruth 2:2). She could have said, “I’m with my mother-in-law, and we’re both childless widows. We’re weak and vulnerable, so everyone should give to us out of pity.” Instead, she went to the field and gathered an ephah of barley, which is about 26 quarts (Ruth 2:17). Her example is a solid rebuke to those who could contribute to meeting their needs instead of expecting handouts. Knowing who to give to requires balance and wisdom because we aren’t in the Old Testament under God’s welfare system. As true as giving is part of being a good steward, it is equally true that knowing when not to give is also part of being a good steward. A Command Versus Suggestion Scripture provides guidelines on when to give and when not to give. We need the instruction in 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, so we will consider this passage carefully. In verse 6, Paul wrote, “We command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.” The strong language “we command” carried Paul’s apostolic authority; therefore, this is a binding order versus a suggestion or recommendation. The Greek word translated as “command” is paraggello, which is a military term meaning “an order handed down from a superior officer.” The same word is used four times in this passage, in verse 4, verse 6, and twice in verse 10 because the church is an army: Second Timothy 2:3-4 says a Christian “must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ…that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” Philippians 2:25 and Philemon 1:2 call Epaphroditus and Archippus fellow soldiers. Ephesians 6:11-17 commands Christians to wear armor and carry a sword. If soldiers do not obey orders, the result is disorder. Unfortunately, some of the Thessalonians were “idle” or in “idleness” (verses 7 and 11). The Greek word is ataktos, meaning “out of ranks, often so of soldiers.” The same Greek word is in 1 Thessalonians 5:14, translated as “insubordinate.” We are commanded to keep away from these people, as well as those not following “the tradition,” which refers to part of Paul’s previous letter: “Aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you” (1 Thessalonians 4:11).1 Here’s the point that we must consider: If we should keep away from people who call themselves Christians but are idle or lazy, it is hard to imagine that God would expect us to give them money. A Good Example to Follow Paul modeled what he preached and frequently told believers to imitate him (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). Although it seems odd to imitate anyone other than Christ, in 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” Because Paul imitated Christ, he indirectly told people to imitate Christ by telling others to imitate him. This applies to us because all Christians should see themselves as examples through whom others see Christ. In the following verses, Paul urged people to follow his example—he was a hard worker and not idle: You yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). Paul gave up his right to receive financial support, choosing instead to work to meet his needs and the needs of others. In his previous letter, he wrote, “You remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:9). This lightened the financial burden on the infant church and silenced accusers—nobody could say Paul was in the ministry for the money. In every city, itinerant teachers were trying to get as much money as possible from people, and Paul didn’t want to be classified with them. As he wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:18, he wanted to “present the gospel of Christ free of charge” so money wouldn’t hinder him. But because Paul did not receive money, this raises a good question that has financial implications for us: Should church leaders be paid? Good Stewards Support Their Church Leaders While church leaders have the right to set aside financial support as Paul did, his example is descriptive versus prescriptive. Other pastors don’t need to do the same, and most couldn’t even if they wanted to, especially those with a wife and children (which Paul did not have). Elsewhere, he wrote that church leaders have the right to receive support from their congregations: “Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:13-14). “Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches” (Galatians 6:6). “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,’ and, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages’” (1 Timothy 5:17-18). Jesus taught the same principle: When He sent out the 12, He said, “Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food” (Matthew 10:9-10). When He sent out the 70, He said, “Remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house” (Luke 10:7). Even though Scripture clearly states that church leaders should be compensated adequately for their labor, many are overworked and underpaid. Consider the following excerpts from articles on pastors’ salaries: The National Association of Evangelicals studied more than 4,000 ministers nationwide in 2015 and found that half make less than $50,000 per year. More than three in four knew someone who left ministry due to financial stress. I’ve talked to denominational leaders who found that many millennial pastors, a few years into ministry, had significant doubts about continuing due to inadequate pay. Many pastors are under extreme stress because they do not have adequate income to meet their financial obligations. Like anyone else who is under heavy financial burdens, a pastor can find his thoughts consumed with worry. Because he is so distracted, he naturally is less effective in his ministry....