What Does God Require?

Whoever heard me spoke well of me, and those who saw me commended me, because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had no one to assist them. The one who was dying blessed me; I made the widow’s heart sing. I put on righteousness as my clothing; justice was my robe and my turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy and examined took up the case of the stranger. I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and snatched the victims from their teeth.
Job 29:11-17

Oh, the joys of those who are considerate of the poor! The Lord saves them when they are in trouble. The Lord protects them and preserves them; they are counted among the blessed in the land. He doesn’t give them over to the desire of their enemies. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.
Psalm 41:1-3

Hallelujah! Happy is the person who fears the Lord, taking great delight in his commands. He distributes freely to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. He will have influence and honor.
Psalm 112:1,9

Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10

One person gives freely, yet gains more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.
Proverbs 11:24

The generous will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but one who is kind to the needy honors him.
Proverbs 14:31

Better a little with righteousness than great income with injustice.
Proverbs 16:8

Those who mock the poor insult their Maker, and those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 17:5

Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will give a reward to the lender.
Proverbs 19:17

Those who shut their ears to the cries of the poor will be ignored in their own time of need.
Proverbs 21:13

Whoever pursues righteousness and ḥesed will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Proverbs 21:21

The righteous give without holding back.
Proverbs 21:26b

One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and one who gives gifts to the rich — both end in poverty.
Proverbs 22:16

Don’t wear yourself out to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. As soon as your eyes fly to wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Proverbs 23:4-5

If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is small. Rescue those being taken off to death; save those stumbling toward slaughter. If you say, “But we didn’t know about this,” won’t he who weighs hearts perceive it? Won’t he who protects your life know? Won’t he repay a person according to his work?
Proverbs 24:10-12

Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for someone who is kind to the poor.
Proverbs 28:8

Those who give to the poor will not be in need, but the one who turns his eyes away will be cursed.
Proverbs 28:27

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked don’t care at all.
Proverbs 29:7

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; make sure the poor and needy get justice.
Proverbs 31:8-9

Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct oppression. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
Isaiah 1:17

Isn’t this is the kind of fasting I want: Breaking the chains of wickedness, untying the ropes of the yoke, setting the oppressed free, and tearing off every yoke? Isn’t it to share your food with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to hide from your relatives?
Isaiah 58:6-7

Do what is just and right. Rescue from his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Don’t mistreat foreigners, orphans, or widows, and stop murdering the innocent.
Jeremiah 22:3

“He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so everything went well. Isn’t that what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 22:16

Listen to me, you fat cows of Bashan, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, and who are always saying to your husbands, “Bring us another drink!”
Amos 4:1

God has shown you what is good, and what does he require of you? Do justice. Love ḥesed. Walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God… The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” “What should we do then?” asked the crowd. John answered, “If you have two shirts, give one to someone who has none. And anyone who has food should do the same.”
Luke 3:8-11

Don’t strive for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. These things dominate the thoughts of the unbelieving world, but your Father already knows you need them. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because it gives your Father great happiness to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to those in need. Make money-bags for yourselves that won’t wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it.
Luke 12:29-33

In everything I’ve done, I’ve shown you by this kind of hard work that we must help the weak, remembering that the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Acts 20:35

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need and pursue hospitality.
Romans 12:13

It’s not that there should be relief for others and hardship for you, but it’s a matter of equality. Right now you have plenty and can supply what they need, so that in turn their abundance will supply what you need. The goal is fairness, as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
2 Corinthians 8:13-15

The point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or under pressure, since God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. As it is written: “He distributed freely; he gave to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.”

Now the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will also provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Charge those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant and not to trust in their money, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Tell them to do what is good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and willing to share.
1 Timothy 6:17-18

Don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
Hebrews 13:16

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: taking care of orphans and widows in their distress and keeping oneself from being polluted by the world.
James 1:27

Whatever you say and do, do it as one who is going to be judged by the law that sets you free, because there will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others.
James 2:12-13

If anyone has material possessions and sees a fellow believer in need but withholds compassion from him—how can God’s love be in that person?
1 John 3:17

“Who then is the faithful and wise manager the master will put in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is the servant the master finds doing his job when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

“Suppose, though, that the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and then begins beating the other servants, partying, and getting drunk. That servant’s master will come on a day when he doesn’t expect him and at a time he’s not aware of. The master will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

“The servant who knows the master’s will and doesn’t get ready or doesn’t do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who doesn’t know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.

From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected.
Luke 12:42-48

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

“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.’

“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
Matthew 25:31-46