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God's View on Financial Assistance and Stewardship

God's perspective on financial assistance and stewardship is deeply rooted in the concept of divine providence, which encompasses His preservation and governance of all things, often through secondary causes [6]. This providence extends to the natural world, animal creation, and the affairs of humanity, including individuals [6]. The Bible consistently portrays God as the ultimate provider and sustainer, with a particular concern for the vulnerable and a call for His followers to reflect His generosity.

Divine providence is understood as God's active care over His works, exercised in preserving and providing for His creatures [7]. This includes the special preservation, prosperity, protection, and deliverance of those who are considered saints [7]. God is the author and preserver of natural life, which is ultimately in His hand [5]. He is seen as the "strong fortress" who makes one's way perfect [2], and His protection is described as indispensable, unfailing, and perpetual [3]. Those who "wait upon God" do so as the God of providence, the giver of all temporal blessings, and the one who provides protection [4].

The biblical narrative emphasizes God's concern for the poor and needy. Psalm 40:17 states, "But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God" [1]. This sentiment is echoed throughout scripture, where God is depicted as protecting the poor [3]. The Old Testament, particularly in Exodus, highlights God's protective stance toward the widow, the orphan, and the foreigner, who were often in economically disadvantaged positions [11]. This demonstrates that God does not value people based on power or wealth, but rather because they bear His image [11]. The value system of God's Kingdom is presented as radically different from the world's, where power and strength often define success [13]. Instead, God blesses those who acknowledge their inadequacy and weakness and turn to Him for strength [13]. Poverty and suffering can, in fact, lead to greater dependence on God [13].

Stewardship, in this context, involves recognizing that all blessings, including financial ones, ultimately come from God. Money can be a blessing from God, but it is also uncertain; the godly are encouraged to trust in God and flourish [8]. The concept of stewardship is not merely about managing one's own resources but also about using them to benefit others, especially those in need. The teachings of Christ, as interpreted by some, are intended to engage and quicken believers to the practice of Christian duties, particularly beneficence and doing good to those who need assistance [12]. This perspective views individuals as "stewards of the manifold grace" of God [12].

The Bible also contains numerous promises that God will feed and comfort His people, particularly those who are poor and hungry [13]. Examples include Psalms 22:26, 107:36-41, 126:1-6, and Isaiah 49:10-13, 51:3, 65:13 [13]. God's presence can be seen in the abundance of His people's families and herds [15]. The Lord watches over those who live by His counsel, protecting, rescuing, and remaining close to them [9].

The idea of God as a helper is a recurring theme. "Behold, God is mine helper," declares Psalm 54:4, a sentiment that is applied to the Messiah and to all saints whom the Lord helps [14]. This help is not limited to spiritual salvation but extends to temporal blessings and protection [4, 7]. The "fat ones," or the rich, as well as the poor and helpless, are called to unite in celebrating God's delivering power [10]. This suggests a universal call to acknowledge God's provision and to participate in His work of care and assistance.

Sources

  1. Psalms “But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God. -- Psalms 40:17”
  2. 2 Samuel “God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect. -- 2 Samuel 22:33”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Protection — God is able to afford -- 1Pe 1:5; Jude 1:24. God is faithful to afford -- 1Th 5:23,24; 2Th 3:3. Of God is Indispensable. -- Ps 127:1. Seasonable. -- Ps 46:1. Unfailing. -- De 31:6; Jos 1:5. Effectual. -- Joh 10:28-30; 2Co 12:9. Uninterrupted. -- Ps 121:3. Encouraging. -- Isa 41:10; 50:7. Perpetual. -- Ps 121:8. Often afforded through means inadequate in themselves. -- Jdj 7:7; 1Sa 17:45,50; 2Ch 14:11. Is afforded to Those who hearken to God. -- Pr 1:33. Returning sinners. -- Job 22:23,25. The perfect in heart. -- 2Ch 16:9. The poor. -- Ps 14:6; 72:12-14.”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Life, Natural — God is the author of -- Ge 2:7; Ac 17:28. God preserves -- Ps 36:6; 66:9. Is in the hand of God -- Job 12:10; Da 5:23. Forfeited by sin -- Ge 2:17; 3:17-19. Of others, not to be taken away -- Ex 20:13. Described as Vain. -- Ec 6:12. Limited. -- Job 7:1; 14:5. Short. -- Job 14:1; Ps 89:47. Uncertain. -- Jas 4:13-15. Full of trouble. -- Job 14:1. God's loving-kindness better than -- Ps 63:3. The value of -- Job 2:4; Mt 6:25. Preserved by discretion -- Pr 13:3. Sometimes prolonged, in answer to prayer -- Isa 38:2-5; Jas 5:15. Obedience to God, tends to p”
  6. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Providence of God, The — Is his care over his works -- Ps 145:9. Is exercised in Preserving his creatures. -- Ne 9:6; Ps 36:6; Mt 10:29. Providing for his creatures. -- Ps 104:27,28; 136:25; 147:9; Mt 6:26. The special preservation of saints. -- Ps 37:28; 91:11; Mt 10:30. Prospering saints. -- Ge 24:48,56. Protecting saints. -- Ps 91:4; 140:7. Delivering saints. -- Ps 91:3; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 63:12. Bringing His words to pass. -- Nu 26:65; Jos 21:45; Lu 21:32,33. Ordering the ways of men. -- Pr 16:9; 19”
  8. Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 11:28: 11:28 Money can be a blessing from God, but it is uncertain. The godly trust in God and flourish (see Ps 1).”
  9. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 33:18: 33:18 God watches over all who live by his counsel (32:8). He protects, rescues, and remains close to them (34:15-22).”
  10. Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 22:27: His case illustrates God's righteous government. Beyond the existing time and people, others shall be brought to acknowledge and worship God; the fat ones, or the rich as well as the poor, the helpless who cannot keep themselves alive, shall together unite in celebrating God's delivering power, and transmit to unborn people the records of His grace.”
  11. Exodus (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Exodus 22:22: 22:22-23 The widow, the orphan, and the foreigner were in a helpless and economically disadvantaged position. God, by his protective stance toward these persons, demonstrated that he does not value people on the basis of their power or wealth, the standards accepted by most humans. Instead, God values people because they share his image (Gen 1:27).”
  12. Luke (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Luke 16:1: We mistake if we imagine that the design of Christ's doctrine and holy religion was either to amuse us with notions of divine mysteries or to entertain us with notions of divine mercies. No, the divine revelation of both these in the gospel is intended to engage and quicken us to the practice of Christian duties, and, as much as any one thing, to the duty of beneficence and doing good to those who stand in need of any thing that either we have or can do for them. This our Saviour is here pressing us to, by reminding us that we are but stewards of the manifold grace ”
  13. Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 6:20: 6:20-23 God blesses those who acknowledge their inadequacy and weakness and turn to God for strength. The value system of God’s Kingdom is radically different from the world’s value system, in which power and strength represent success. 6:20-21 poor . . . hungry: Cp. Matt 5:3, 6. This statement likely included physical and spiritual poverty. Poverty and suffering tend to make us more dependent on God. The Old Testament includes many promises that God will feed and comfort his people (Pss 22:26; 107:36-41; 126:1-6; Isa 49:10-13; 51:3; 65:13).”
  14. Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 54:4: Behold, God is mine helper,.... This being a matter of wonder to be helped in so extraordinary a manner, and a sure and certain case, and what was deserving the attention of others; for the encouragement of their faith and hope in like cases, a "behold" is prefixed unto it: and what is here said is true of David's son, the Messiah, and is expressed by him in much the same language, Isa 50:9; and of all the saints whom the Lord helps, as at first conversion, out of the pit wherein is no water, out of the horrible pit, the mire and clay of nature's darkness, ignorance, ”
  15. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 107:38: 107:38 God’s presence can be seen in the abundance of his people’s families and herds (127:3; 133:3; cp. 109:8).”
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