Poverty Reduction: What the Bible Says about Poverty & How Can Christian Students Help
What is poverty reduction, and what does the Bible say about overcoming poverty?
How can Christians fight global poverty through their careers, charity, and advocacy?
This piece provides you with teachings on compassion and justice while offering practical steps to get involved with poverty reduction. From choosing a career that makes an impact to volunteering and supporting high-impact charities, we’ll cover the many ways in which you, too, can make a difference today.
What Does the Bible Say about Overcoming Poverty?
About $100 per person is spent annually on healthcare in low-income countries (adjusted for purchasing power). For comparison, annual health spending in the European Union exceeds $4,500 per person. In the UK, it is around $5,000 per person, and in the US, it is nearly $11,000 per person. Clearly, the issue of global poverty and its effects on people are undeniable.
But what does the Bible teach us in this regard?
As we all know, the theme of helping those in need is recurring throughout the Bible.
We’re taught to have a deep concern for the poor and the oppressed, to be generous and kind and not indifferent to the struggles of others:
"Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed." (Psalm 82:3)
“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)
Jesus spoke about bringing good news to the poor:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free [...].” (Luke 4:18)
Good news for the poor means helping them through words and deeds (1 John 3:18).
Being kind to the poor also strengthens our faith in God. He promises to bless those who give wholeheartedly. When we share and give cheerfully, we’re not losing anything. Instead, we gain joy, peace, and God's presence in our lives.
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17)
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (Corinthians 9:7)
Why and how Christians can help the poor (in 60 seconds)👇🏻
What Does Jesus Say about Helping the Poor?
Jesus spoke extensively about helping the poor, emphasizing compassion, generosity, and justice as key virtues. Here are some teachings and examples you can always refer to:
🙏 Helping the poor means serving Jesus: Jesus Himself identifies with the poor, telling us that acts of kindness toward those in need (like feeding the hungry and helping the sick) are equivalent to serving Him directly.
“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.’” (Matthew 25:40)
🙏 Think of generosity and sacrifice as ways of living: Jesus emphasized sacrificial giving, teaching that true generosity is measured by sacrifice, not amount. His teachings align with the concept of effective altruism, which encourages using resources wisely to maximize impact. It also covers the concept of earning to give, which refers to working strategically to donate more, and reflects Jesus' call to prioritize others over wealth.
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.’” (Mark 12:41-44)
🙏 Being indifferent means supporting the oppressor: Jesus condemned neglecting the poor. In Luke 16:19-31, He told the parable of the rich man and Lazarus to warn against ignoring those in need, showing eternal consequences for such indifference.
“Looking at his disciples, he said: ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)
Does Jesus command us to help the poor?
Jesus’ entire ministry was centered around helping the poor and marginalized. He identified with them, showing that acts of kindness toward them reflect God’s mission.
What about generosity in general?
To Jesus, giving isn’t just about helping others but also about transforming our own hearts and getting closer to God with every step of the way.
“In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35)
So what is a Christian's responsibility to the poor?
We are called to care for the needy and practice sacrificial giving. This includes both supporting immediate relief (like donating and volunteering) and finding long-term solutions, such as building a career in education, government, and healthcare.
Learn more about the pressing problem of global poverty and find out what you can do about it in our full report.
What Should Christians Do for the Poor Today?
Christians today are called to help the poor through compassion and action, reflecting the principles mentioned above as well as the teachings of Jesus. Here are practical steps you can take today:
Be kind and compassionate
As followers of Jesus, we are encouraged to have genuine compassion for the poor. This involves keeping up-to-date with poverty issues around the globe and being ready to act, especially by donating.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:17)
Advocate for justice
Defend the rights of the poor and speak up for those who need it the most and cannot speak for themselves. This includes promoting fair policies and addressing the systemic causes of poverty, even when you find it challenging or uncomfortable.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” (Proverbs 31:8-9)
Give selflessly and generously
Generosity is central to Christian responsibility. Giving should be done cheerfully and without reluctance. (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).
Probably the most effective thing most Christians can do is give 10% of their income to effective global poverty charities. Your generosity could have a radical impact on accomplishing God’s work:
"So, I think for me, it’s actually the money. The more I can give, the more I can sacrifice myself. The people I care about and love, some who we will probably never meet, will have their lives impacted. It’s all about that. At the end of the day, what matters is that people have their lives changed. And while, obviously, I’d love to be able to see that in the flesh, but when giving money, and you know, when you’re giving money, there’s one step further removed. Just knowing and trusting in God that will happen, sort of drives me through my day.” (Grayden Reece-Smith, Finance Expert and Speaker)
Grayden gives 75% of his income to poverty and global health charities. Watch the full story here.
Learn more on how your generosity has an impact on global missions in our comprehensive article.
Work with Christian charities
Supporting high-impact charities enables us to contribute to effective humanitarian efforts that actually make a difference. Some of our recommendations include:
How can Christian Students Choose a Career that Helps with Poverty Reduction?
As a Christian student, you can choose a career that helps with poverty reduction by aligning your professional aspirations with your faith-based values of compassion, justice, and service. Here are practical steps and career paths to consider:
1. Pursue a career that addresses poverty directly
Choose a career opportunity that has a direct impact on global poverty. While there are many options available, here are some of our recommendations:
Discover what you need to take into consideration when planning your career as a Christian student.
2. Engage in advocacy and policy
Advocating for systemic changes, such as fair wages and access to education, can address the very root causes of poverty.
Additionally, careers in global organizations focus on structural solutions to poverty through economic development, infrastructure, and education.
3. Volunteer on a regular basis
Volunteer your time and your skills to high-impact organisations. This can help you build a valuable network within the organizations that align with your faith and professional goals.
4. Integrate faith into your current career
If you’re already employed or have a well-established career, it’s not too late to include your faith into your professional life! Look for new opportunities to tackle global poverty, ask God for wisdom in decision-making, and see your job as a way to contribute to the world.
Continue reading our article on how to be more successful in your current job to find new ways of having an impact on global poverty.
5. Always seek guidance through prayer and mentorship
Pray for wisdom in choosing a career path that aligns with God’s calling for your life:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Make sure you seek advice from mentors or professionals in fields related to poverty reduction to gain insight into career options.
We offer free 1-on-1 advice for Christian students who are looking for a way to build an impactful career. Apply today and our team will reach out to you as soon as possible.
If you found this article helpful, make sure you bookmark it and share it with anyone you think could benefit from reading this, and we pray you find the clarity and guidance you need on your path to reducing global poverty.
