Deuteronomy 24:18-22 - The Stranger, The Fatherless, and The Widow

God makes special provision for this group of his image bearers...

Deu 24:17  Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless; nor take a widow's raiment to pledge:

Deu 24:18  But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt, and the LORD thy God redeemed thee thence: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

Deu 24:19  When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands.

Deu 24:20  When thou beatest thine olive tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

Deu 24:21  When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vineyard, thou shalt not glean it afterward: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow.

Deu 24:22  And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt: therefore I command thee to do this thing.

So it is proper not to be greedy, but to put aside a portion of our annual haven't for the provision of these needy persons. Yet realize that they too have a responsibility to go and work the fields for there own substances. In other passages there are general calls for alms, and cups of cool water, so the picture is incomplete without more study. But the Bible also speaks to the roots of unnecessary poverty.

Pro 6:9  How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

Pro 6:10  Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Pro 6:11  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Pro 24:33  Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

Pro 24:34  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.

Pro 14:31  He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

Pro 17:5  Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Paul under the guidance of the Holy Spirit many years later writes...

2Th 3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

2Th 3:11  For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

2Th 3:12  Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

2Th 3:13  But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.

2Th 3:14  And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.

2Th 3:15  Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

As Jesus spoke...

Mat 26:11  For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

Mar 14:7  For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

Joh 12:8  For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.