@Twistie is there someone or somebody in your community, or Church, reading this and not helping?
It would seem that us "old folk" is becoming a liability, the "forgotten ones" and that the Internet ekklesia is not the true ekklesia?
I mean, on this forum it is all good to say "God is love" and to "love one another, when there is no practical assistance?
Jas 1:26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).
Jas 1:27 External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.
pure and undefiled religion, James praises the man who visits needy orphans and widows, and who keeps himself unspotted from the world.
In other words, the practical outworking of the new birth is found in “acts of grace and a walk of separation.” Guy King describes these virtues as practical love and practical holiness.
We should put our own faith on trial with the following questions: Do I read the Bible with a humble desire to have God rebuke me, teach me, and change me? Am I anxious to have my tongue bridled? Do I justify my temper or do I want victory over it? How do I react when someone starts to tell an off-color joke? Does my faith manifest itself in deeds of kindness to those who cannot repay me?
Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 22:9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
Deuteronomy 15:7 If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother.
Deuteronomy 15:11 For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, “You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.”
1 Samuel 2:7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.
1 Samuel 2:8 He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world.
Psalm 9:18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
Psalm 34:6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 35:10 All my bones shall say, “O Lord, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”
Psalm 37:21The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.
Psalm 40:17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
Psalm 41:1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him;
Psalm 72:12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
Proverbs 14:21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
Proverbs 16:19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Proverbs 22:9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.
Proverbs 22:16 Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
Family Activity Guide - Gratitude
Isaiah 29:19 The meek shall obtain fresh joy in the Lord, and the poor among mankind shall exult in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 41:17 When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them.
Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 10:21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Luke 6:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 9:11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
Galatians 2:10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
Ephesians 4:28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
1 Timothy 6:18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share.
James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
James 2:14-17 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
That concludes our list of Bible verses about helping the poor among us. Reflect on this list as you go about your daily life and seek opportunities to share your generosity with those less fortunate.
I noticed since you made your plight known, no one is assisting?
What about Matthew 25?
It would seem we have cliques here, those who have a form of godliness....
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
All good to quote scriptures and come across as pious, but neglect the poor brothers and sisters.
Again @Twistie please let me know when help arrives.
Yours in Christ.
Johann
