loving the marginalized

Why is Loving the Marginalized so Important? By David Smith.

Here are 18 reasons, supported by over 40 verses from the Bible, on why we should love the marginalized (Those marginalized by the world, but loved by God.) Yet, what is so interesting is that these reasons to love the marginalized do not hinge on the response, life change, or even growth of those being served.

The reasons for the servant to serve are set by two simple principles: to glorify God and to become more like Him. That’s it.

So, why love the marginalized …

• Because ... whoever is kind to the needy honors God (Prov 14:31 - NIV) He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward him for what he has done. (Prov 19:17-NIV) A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (Prov 11:25 - NIV) … then you shall take delight in the Lord…and ride upon the heights of the earth ... (Isa 58:6-14 - NRSV) ... And you will be blessed, because they can not repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous (Luke-14:13-14 - NRSV)
• Because ... He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever (2 Cor 9:9 - NIV) … not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also over flowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Cor 9:12 - NIV)
• Because ... your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. (Acts 10:4 -NIV) … Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me. (Matt 25:40) He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? Says the Lord. (Jer 22:16)
• Because ... you should not leave undone the more important things. (Luke 11:42-NLT) He that gives unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse. (Proverbs 28:27) … give to the needy … and you will be clean all over. (Luke 11:41 - NLT)
• Because ... then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I (Isaiah 58:9 - NIV) … God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. (Acts 10:31-NIV) Blessed is he that considers the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and You will not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of sickness: You will restore him in his sickness. (Psa 41:1-3)
• Because ... the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I (the Lord) command you, saying, You shall open your hand wide unto your brother, to your poor, and to your needy, in your land. (Deut 15:11) … remembering the words of the Lord Jesus who said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35) … give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:7)
• Because ... by this service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for your obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. (2 Cor 9:13-14 - NIV)
• Because ... the righteous considers the cause of the poor: but the wicked regard not to know it. (Prov 29:7) … among my people are found wicked men … they have become great, and grown rich … they shine: … they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not … the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy they do not judge. … shall not My Soul be avenged on such a nation as this? (Jer. 5:28-29)
• Because ... the Lord Almighty says: Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor … but they refused to pay attention … and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was angry. When I called, they didn’t listen; so when they called, I would not listen, says the Lord Almighty. I scattered them with a whirlwind among the nations where they were strangers. (Zech. 7:9-14 - NIV)
• Because ... this was the sin of … Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were haughty and did detestable things before me. Therefore I did away with them as you have seen. (Eze 16:49-50 - NIV)
• Because ... If my people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chron 7:14) … break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity (Dan 4:27 - NKJV).
• Because ... the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish forever. (Psa 9:17-18) Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy. (Prov 31:9)
• Because ... religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress … (James 1:27 - NIV) Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom He promised to those who love Him (James 2:5 - NIV) … remember the poor … (Gal 2:10)
• Because ... What does it profit, my brethren, though a man say he has faith, and have not works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what does it profit? Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:14-17)
• Because ... In Christ Jesus … the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. (Gal 5:6 - NIV) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? … let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in His Presence. (1 John 3:16 – 19 - NIV)
• Because ... the Kingdom of God is ... righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit ... (Rom 14:17 - NIV) Your Father's good pleasure is to give you the Kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the poor; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail … For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:33-34 - RSV) ...By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so they may take hold of real life (1Tim 6:17-19 - NLT)
• Because ... If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Isa 58:10-11 - RSV) …you shall be called Repairer of the Breach…(Isa. 58:12 - RSV) … and … ride upon the heights of the earth … (Isa 58:14 - RSV)
• Because ... the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble plans he stands. (Isa 32:8 - NIV) And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written, "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever." He … will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. (2Cor 9:7-10 - RSV) only … remember the poor, which very thing I was eager to do. (Gal 2:10 - RSV)

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