“For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me… Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” — Matthew 25:35-40 (NKJV)
Jesus’ words in our anchor scripture highlight God’s call to care for the less fortunate. When we provide food, water, or clothing to those in need, we’re not merely performing acts of charity; we serve Christ directly. In essence, helping the needy is a tangible demonstration of our faith and love for God.
Throughout Scripture, God shows His deep compassion for the poor and calls His people to do the same. He established laws to protect the vulnerable, such as allowing the poor to gather food from the edges of unharvested fields (Leviticus 19:9-10). He also strongly warned against neglecting or oppressing them (Proverbs 22:16, Deuteronomy 15:7-8). Caring for the poor was not treated as an afterthought but was woven into God’s covenant with His people.
Jesus emphasised this principle and made it central to His ministry. He reached out to those who societies often overlooked, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and uplifted the marginalised. When Zacchaeus met Jesus, his first resolution was to give half of his possessions to the poor (Luke 19:8). Jesus showed that caring for the poor is not only an obligation but an expression of a transformed heart – a life that is aligned with God’s values.
The early Christian community placed significant importance on caring for the poor. In fact, they were so committed to this principle that no one among them was in need. Believers would sell their possessions, such as land or houses, and give the proceeds to the apostles to distribute to those in need (Acts 4:34-35).
Apostle Paul urged believers to “remember the poor” (Galatians 2:10), emphasising that following Christ’s example means caring for those in need, not out of duty, but out of love for God. Interestingly, when Apostles Peter, James and John extended the right hand of fellowship to Apostle Paul and Barnabas; their only request was that remembering the poor should be considered as a top priority (Acts 2:10).
Showing kindness to the poor acknowledges their worth and honours God’s presence in their lives because, “Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honours God.” (Proverbs 14:31).
Ultimately, giving to the poor and needy is an act of worship. Each act of kindness toward those in need is a sacred service unto God. In helping those in need, we become instruments of God’s love, participating in His desire to uplift and restore.
This calling challenges us to show compassion in tangible ways and honour the dignity of each person through our actions. By caring for the poor, we make our love for God visible and fulfil His call to serve those He holds dear.
Bible Reading Plan: I John 3