Seek to please God, not  win applause from people

 

"But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly." Matthew 6:3
 

Don't give in order to receive human praise or favor
 

"Then He also said to him who invited Him, 'When you give a dinner or a supper, do not ask your friends, your brothers, your relatives, nor rich neighbors, lest they also invite you back, and you be repaid. But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:12-14

 

"And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " Acts 20:35

 

Give extravagantly, with your hole-heart

 

"And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said, 'Truly I say to you  that this poor widow has put in more than all;  for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had." Luke 21:1-2
 

"And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, 'Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.'  And they criticized her sharply.
     "But Jesus said, 'Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. 'For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial." Mark 14:3-8

 

"So the people asked him, saying, 'What shall we do then?'
He answered and said to them, 'He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." Luke 3:10

 

"He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written:
     "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor;
     His righteousness endures forever."
"Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God." 2 Corinthians 9:6-12

 

Our first duty is to our poor brothers and sisters in Christ
 

"I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem." Romans 15:25-26
 

"...there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea." Acts 11:28-29

 

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?" 1 John 3:16-17

 

Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside...." 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

 

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality." Romans 12:9-13

 

"...we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God." 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

 

Give to those who are willing to serve God and follow His ways (a command that clashes with the notion of global or universal welfare system that would eliminate all forms of poverty)

 

"But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you;  nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
    "For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. But as for you, brethren,  do not grow weary in doing good." 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

 

"Honor widows who are really widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. ... But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." 1 Timothy 5:3-8
 

Don't let riches capture your heart

 

"Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." Mark 10:21
 

"Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, 'Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?'
So Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "
     "And he said, 'All these things I have kept from my youth.'
     "So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, 'You still lack one thing. 'Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.'
     "But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
     "And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, 'How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 'For 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."
     "And those who heard it said, 'Who then can be saved?"
     "But He said, 'The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.'" Luke 18:18-27
 

"Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." Mark 10:21
 

Poverty will persist as long as we live in this fallen world

 

Jesus ... said to them, 'Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always. For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial." Matthew 26:10-12

 

 "For the poor will never cease from the land; therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall open your hand wide to your brother, to your poor and your needy, in your land." Deuteronomy 15:11

Always restore what's not rightfully gained
 

"Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the 'poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by 'false accusation, 'I restore fourfold."
     "And Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because 'he also is 'a son of Abraham; 'for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:8-10

Our motive must be love -- for God first, then for His people

"And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:3

"They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do." Galatians 2:10

Share the gospel as well. (But today's organized global programs avoid the gospel with its offensive message of sin and redemption)

 

"Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 'The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.'" Matthew 11:4

 

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,

because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed...." Luke 4:17-18

 

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:9-10

 

"For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.  Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you." 1 Corinthians 9:19

No partiality within His family

 

"For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, 'You sit here in a good place,' and say to the poor man, 'You stand there,' ... have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
     "Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" James 2:2-5

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-20

"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share." 1 Timothy 6:17

 

 Our sovereign God is in control. He knows those whom He will rescue from oppression and will lead us to them as we "wait on" Him.

 

"The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up.
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap."  1 Samuel 2:7

 

"I know that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name;
The upright shall dwell in Your presence." Psalm 140:12-13

"Lord, who is like You, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him,
Yes, the poor and the needy from him who plunders him?" Psalm 35:10

"Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge,
Who eat up my people as they eat bread, and do not call on the Lord?
There they are in great fear, for God is with the generation of the righteous.
You shame the counsel of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge."  Psalm 14:4-6

"The Lord gave, and the Lord has The rich and the poor have this in common,
The Lord is the maker of them all." Proverbs 22:2
 

"Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said:
"Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.

In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong." Job 1:20-22

 

Practical warnings

 

"Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with bread." Proverbs 20:13

 

"He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!" Proverbs 28:19

 

"Hear, my son, and be wise; and guide your heart in the way.
Do not mix with winebibbers, or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags." Proverbs 23:19-21