Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive"(Acts 20:34,35).
Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need(Eph. 4:28).
Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you(Lk.6:38).
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully(2Cor. 9:6).
God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. being enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God(:8-13).
He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever(:9).
Now may He who supples seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness(:10).
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like foliage(Pr.11:28).
Blessed is he who considers the poor(helpless, or powerless); the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble(Ps.41:1).
A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion. {discretion: Heb. judgment)(Ps.112:5).
There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches(Pr.13:7).
For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God(Ecc.2:26).
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor(Pr.28:8).
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just(13:22).
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want(22:16).
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent(28:20).
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse(:27).
He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. {that which: or, his deed}(Pr.19:17).
There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty(11:24).
The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself(:25).
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus(Phil.4:19).
But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth(Deut.8:18).
Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury; but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thine hand to in the land whither thou goest to possess it(23:20).
When thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it: it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow: that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hands(24:19).
He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well with him: was not this to know me? saith the LORD(Jer.22:16).
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(Deut.15:10).
Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. {a lengthening: or, an healing of thine error}(Dan. 4:27).
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine(Pr.3:9-10).
thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest(Deut.14:29).
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. {pour: Heb. empty out}(Mal.3:10).
Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do(Gal.2:10).
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is welpleased(Heb.13:16).
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God(Phil.4:18).
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality(Rom.12:13).
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; {uncertain: Gr. uncertainty of riches}(1Tim.6:17).
If riches increase, set not your heart upon them(Ps.62:10).
For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack(2 Cor.8:13-15).
And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need(Acts 2:44,45).
And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need(4:32-34).
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.(Lk.18:22).
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich(2Cor.8:9).
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. {assure: Gr. persuade} For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us(1Jhn.3:16-24).
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. {alone: Gr. by itself} Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also(James 2:14-26).