Deuteronomy 15:10
Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.
Thou shalt surely give to a poor and needy brother generously and with a willing heart that is not grieved, resentful or grudging. The gift is to be enough to meet need and supply necessities freely, including food, clothing and shelter, with each giving according to means. Help is not to be withheld even when the year of release is near, for to withhold for that reason is selfishness and sin that forfeits God's prosperity. For this willing generosity God will bless the giver in all works and undertakings, so obedience brings prosperity, generosity need not lead to want, and no duty done for the needy, afflicted or sorrowing will lose its reward. The command is fulfilled in practical merciful care for poor and distressed fellow believers, whose continuing presence gives ongoing opportunity to practice generosity and resist selfishness, including forgiving the debt of afflicted brethren as one would wish to be forgiven.
Willing Giving and Blessing
Thou shalt surely give to a poor and needy brother, and the giving is to be generous and willing, with a heart that is not grieved, resentful or grudging when the gift is made. What is entrusted by God is to be shared with those in need, and the command is surely to give rather than to withhold. The help given must be sufficient to meet need, supplying necessities freely and without a grudging heart. That sufficiency includes food, clothing and shelter for suffering people, with God's means used to meet those wants, and each giving according to means.
Help is not to be withheld because the year of release is near. To withhold for that reason is selfishness and sin, and to pass over these directions brings loss of God's prosperity. Poverty does not excuse withholding, for even the poor were to bring an offering, and those unable through sickness or misfortune were to be helped by the wealthy so they could bring a modest offering.
For this willing generosity God promises to bless the giver in all works and in all that is put to the hand and undertaken. Obedience to God's commands in this brings prosperity, so generosity need not lead to want. No duty done for the needy, the afflicted, or the sorrowing will lose its reward. Meeting the wants of the poor and of God's cause tests character and develops moral worth, helping to form the character needed for translation to heaven.
Whom and How to Help
The command to give surely and without a grieved heart applies to relieving poor and distressed fellow believers as practical, merciful care with what has been entrusted for sharing with those in need. The poor will remain present, and their continuing presence gives ongoing opportunity to practice generosity and resist selfishness. That care includes providing for faithful ministers who can no longer work and lack means to support themselves and their dependents. It also extends to helping a poor and dependent relative, not only to those without family ties. In the care of the poor it directs provision for those whose need follows from keeping God's commandments, rather than diverting that help to those who persist in violating them.
The same requirement calls for mercy and right dealing in a financial dispute with a brother, showing compassion and doing right toward him. It specifically requires forgiving the debt of afflicted fellow believers, since releasing the claim is obedience to God's law and treats a brother as one would wish to be treated by God. The instruction to remember the poor and supply their necessities freely without a grudging heart gives direction for the labor problem, and if followed the world would be a different place. Meeting the wants of the poor and of God's cause tests character and develops moral worth. Meeting them in this willing way helps form the character needed for translation to heaven.
Poverty does not excuse bringing an offering, for giving was to be according to means and was not to be withheld from the poor. Those unable to give because of sickness or misfortune were to be helped by the wealthy so they could bring a modest offering.