Lending to the Poor

⁷ “If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your city gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. ⁸ Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him enough for whatever need he has. ⁹ Be careful that there isn’t this wicked thought in your heart, ‘The seventh year, the year of canceling debts, is near,’ and you are stingy toward your poor brother and give him nothing. He will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty. ¹⁰ Give to him, and don’t have a stingy heart^[a] when you give, and because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you do.^[b]

Invest in Life

⁴² And whoever gives^(A) even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple,^[a](B) truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

⁴⁰ “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’^(A)

⁶ The point is this:^[a] The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each person should do as he has decided in his heart—not reluctantly or out of compulsion, since God loves^(A) a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able^(B) to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

¹⁰ For God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love^[a] you demonstrated for his name by serving the saints—and by continuing to serve them.^(A)