Our world is hurting more than ever. We can see it everywhere- on front pages, during the nightly news, across social media, and through casual conversations. The impact from the pandemic, tension in the Middle East, and everyday burdens are wearing on us all.
So how do you provide a beacon of light in the darkest times? How do you help those who are hurting in your community and across the world? By turning to Scripture.
Here are 25 bible verses to help you answer who to help, why to help, how to help, and what happens when you help. Pastors and church leaders, you can even incorporate these verses into sermons or your offertory time to teach biblical principles and to cultivate a culture of generous people who serve the world.
Bible Verses about Who to Help
We’re called to help people and meet the needs of those around us. But, the Bible focuses on these groups particularly:
Help the poor.
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”-Deuteronomy 15:11
“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you.”-Leviticus 25:35-36
Help the hungry, both in spirit and in body.
“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.” –Isaiah 58:10
“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” – James 2:14-17
Help the burdened.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” –Galatians 6:2
Help the sick.
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” –Matthew 10:8
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” –Acts 20:35
Help the saints.
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” –Isaiah 1:17
“Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.” –Romans 12:13
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’”-Matthew 25:44-45
Bible Verses about How to Help
So now that we have covered who to help, how do we help them? There’s parable after parable and verse after verse about helping those in need throughout Scripture. These passages offer hundreds of ways to help others, but here are just a few:
Give sacrificially.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” –Luke 12:33-34
Build up others.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” –1 Thessalonians 5:11
Put others first.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” -Philippians 2:3-4
Practically- in everyday ways.
“‘What should we do then?’ the crowd asked. John answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’” –Luke 3:10-11
“When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up- one on one side, one on the other- so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” –Exodus 17:12
Treat others the way you want to be treated.
“And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” –Luke 6:31
Bible Verses about Why We Help
God has painted a clear picture of generosity for us. He gave the ultimate Sacrifice, His Son, to an undeserving world. During Jesus’s time on earth, He continually met the needs of those around him. He loved God, loved others, and served the world, which is exactly what we are called to do too.
God loved us first.
“We love because He first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” –Romans 12:10
By serving the saints, we serve the Lord.
“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for His name in serving the saints, as you still do.” –Hebrews 6:10
We were created to be generous.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” –Ephesians 2:10
By helping others, we please God.
“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” –Hebrews 13:16
We are called to give.
“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.’” –Mark 10:21
Bible Verses about What Happens When You Help
God gives us back more than what we give away. When we find ourselves in a time of struggle, God always meets our needs. And in heaven, your rewards will be far greater than the worldly possessions you sacrificed during your time here.
You reap what you sow.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” –Luke 6:38
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” –Galatians 6:9
The Bible is full of verses upon verses prompting us to help others. And what a wonderful thing that is! Caring for others allows us to not only share the love of God but serve the Lord too. Use these verses in your sermons or before a designated offering time to inspire generosity and community outreach amongst your congregation.
