Crime and Poverty: God’s Words to the Rich and the Poor

By Robin Fleming

Because we honor the Bible as God’s message to us about who He is and how He interacts with His world, its stories and teachings help to inform our understanding of the numerous facets of living in poverty and our response to these things as followers of Jesus. This month’s focus on the intersection of poverty and crime provides an interesting lens through which to look at Scripture. While exploring the connections the Bible might make between crime and poverty, I have drawn the following conclusions:

1. The Bible devotes much more attention to the unjust and oppressive (even criminal?) behaviors of the rich and powerful than to any lawbreaking specifically by those who are poor. Examples include instructions to pay daily wages promptly (Deut. 24:14-15); to avoid oppressive handling of loans (Deut. 24:10-13, 17); to act justly and advocate for the oppressed (Jer. 22:3-5); to prioritize justice, compassion, and support of others’ well-being over looking good religiously (Luke 11:37-52); and to treat the poor person with the same honor normally given to the rich (James 2:1-9).
2. Laws in the Old Testament (OT) and teachings by Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament describe community support that enables the poor to survive well, pursue material stability, and relieve debt without having to resort to criminal means. OT law enabled those in need to glean from the fields (Lev. 19:9-10, 23:22); give affordable animal offerings (Lev. 5:7, 11; 12:8; 14:21-22); be freed from debt at certain times (Lev. 25:13-14, 23-31); and receive food at cost and loans without interest (Lev. 25:35-38). Jesus expanded on this, making active meeting of physical needs the heart of His kingdom (Matt. 25:31-46). His brother, James, stressed to Christians that true, living faith would involve meeting the physical needs of others (James 2:14-17). In an inspiring example of these teachings, the young church shared generously and freely so that no one was left in need (Acts 4:32-37).
3. God’s instructions about how to live apply to all regardless of class or income status. The laws and guidelines laid down for God’s people in the OT were given to the whole community, with justice, honesty, and obedience expected of all, no exceptions made. The same is true for Jesus’ teachings and the apostles’ instructions to early believers. Extra compassion and support for the powerless and needy are offered, but no pass is given for breaking the rules to get by.
4. The values God has established as means to abundant life for rich or poor include a strong work ethic, integrity over wealth and comfort, and contentment. Old Testament law demanded integrity in judicial matters, with no partiality given to a person because he or she was poor (Lev. 19:15). Skim through the book of Proverbs and you will see repeated words of wisdom concerning the visible benefits of hard work, detriments of laziness, and advantage of integrity over wealth. Paul in his letters stressed the importance – and possibility – of contentment, even in a position of lack (Phil. 4:11-13; 1 Tim. 6:6-8; Heb. 13:5).
5. From the beginning, God has asked people to trust Him to provide what is needed. This is a persistent, perpetual theme found in nearly every book of the Bible. Jesus emphasized this in His “sermon on the mount” (Matt. 6:25-33).

The picture I see here as it relates to any relationship between poverty and particular criminal activity is this:

In God’s kingdom, extra responsibility is given to those with material surplus and influence to act compassionately, generously, and justly toward those without. God’s people hold their possessions loosely, sharing where there is need rather than accumulating for personal satisfaction. All, regardless of income level, live lives of justice, honesty, and obedience to His ways, and all work as they are able and cultivate contentment. Undergirding it all is a determined trust in God as the faithful, able provider.