"If in any of the towns in the land that the LORD your God is giving you there are Israelites in need, then do not be selfish and refuse to help them.

Do not refuse to lend them something, just because the year when debts are canceled is near. Do not let such an evil thought enter your mind. If you refuse to make the loan, they will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be held guilty.

There will always be some Israelites who are poor and in need, and so I command you to be generous to them.

Some people spend their money freely and still grow richer. Others are cautious, and yet grow poorer.

Be generous, and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped.

Be generous and share your food with the poor. You will be blessed for it.

But an honorable person acts honestly and stands firm for what is right.

How happy everyone will be with plenty of water for the crops and safe pasture everywhere for the donkeys and cattle.

Do your planting in the morning and in the evening, too. You never know whether it will all grow well or whether one planting will do better than the other.

Give to them freely and unselfishly, and the LORD will bless you in everything you do.

Happy are those who are concerned for the poor; the LORD will help them when they are in trouble.

The LORD will protect them and preserve their lives; he will make them happy in the land; he will not abandon them to the power of their enemies.

Let those who wept as they planted their crops, gather the harvest with joy!

Those who wept as they went out carrying the seed will come back singing for joy, as they bring in the harvest.

Wicked people do not really gain anything, but if you do what is right, you are certain to be rewarded.

When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the LORD, and the LORD will pay you back.

If the people in that house welcome you, let your greeting of peace remain; but if they do not welcome you, then take back your greeting.

You can be sure that whoever gives even a drink of cold water to one of the least of these my followers because he is my follower, will certainly receive a reward."

The King will reply, 'I tell you, whenever you did this for one of the least important of these followers of mine, you did it for me!'

and you will be blessed, because they are not able to pay you back. God will repay you on the day the good people rise from death."

Remember that the person who plants few seeds will have a small crop; the one who plants many seeds will have a large crop.

If you plant in the field of your natural desires, from it you will gather the harvest of death; if you plant in the field of the Spirit, from the Spirit you will gather the harvest of eternal life.

So then, as often as we have the chance, we should do good to everyone, and especially to those who belong to our family in the faith.

God is not unfair. He will not forget the work you did or the love you showed for him in the help you gave and are still giving to other Christians.