Many people – both Christians and non-Christians – are concerned about the poor. Individuals and families provide money and resources to help those who are in need. Charitable organizations have been established to provide assistance to the less fortunate. Many government programs are funded supposedly for the purpose of ending poverty. Yet poverty still exists.
Some hold to the idealistic notion that poverty can be eliminated. Yet, it is not possible to do this in the fallen world in which we live. Jesus said, “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me” (John 12:8). In other words, there will always be people in poverty. Why is that? To answer that question, let us first consider a few reasons why people are poor.
Reasons Why People Are Poor
#1 – People are lazy. Before discussing this further, let me address a potential objection. I am not saying that all poor people are lazy. There are other reasons why one might face poverty [we will discuss these in a moment]. That being said, we cannot ignore the problem of laziness. The book of Proverbs has a lot to say about this as the wise man gives instructions to the “sluggard” throughout the book.* Let us notice one of these passages:
“Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest. How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?” (Proverbs 6:6-9).
Laziness leads to poverty. Again, it is not the only reason people might become poor, but it is a factor many times (and often may be the primary factor), especially in this country. Because of this, one’s poverty is avoidable as long as he is willing to make an effort. Paul wrote, “For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Unfortunately, many people do not want to work. They insist on living off of others and taking advantage of the kindness, programs, and assistance offered to them. However, these resources are not unlimited. So in doing this, they are also depriving those who are truly in need of the aid that could have been used to help them.
#2 – People make bad choices. Consider the parable Jesus gave of the prodigal son:
“And He said, ‘A man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.” So he divided his wealth between them. And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him” (Luke 15:11-16).
In this parable, the younger son made the foolish decision to ask for his inheritance. After receiving it, he squandered it and was left with nothing. As Jesus described what happened, this young man realized his mistake. He was undoubtedly penitent, but that did not take away his poverty.
Even when we repent, we still face consequences for our decisions. This is not just about sinful decisions. We could suffer consequences for our unwise choices (bad investments, foolish purchases, etc.). Realizing our mistake does not make the consequences go away.
This reminds us of the importance of exercising good stewardship, which is also a topic covered extensively in the book of Proverbs.** The wise man said, “There is one who pretends to be rich, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, but has great wealth” (Proverbs 13:7). Too many people pretend to be rich and spend more than they have, then find themselves under crippling debt. This can lead to poverty, especially when they face unexpected personal calamities [see next point].
#3 – People face calamities. Remember what happened to Job. He was very wealthy, but he lost everything.
“There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil. Seven sons and three daughters were born to him. His possessions also were 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500 female donkeys, and very many servants; and that man was the greatest of all the men of the east” (Job 1:1-3).
“Now on the day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, ‘The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans attacked and took them. They also slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three bands and made a raid on the camels and took them and slew the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.’ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, ‘Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and behold, a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people and they died, and I alone have escaped to tell you’” (Job 1:13-19).
It is unlikely that any of us have ever experienced (or will experience) anything like what Job faced. He was extremely wealthy but quickly lost everything. However, notice his response to all of this:
“Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. He said, ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.’ Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God” (Job 1:20-22).
Job’s poverty did not come because he was lazy, sinned, or made bad choices. Yet he faced these circumstances that all of us would surely describe as “unfair.” People continue to suffer unfairly today through no fault of their own.
#4 – People face oppression. Sometimes, oppression comes from those who are around us. God ordained civil authorities to punish the oppressors (cf. Romans 13:1-4). The wise man said, “A wise king winnows the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them” (Proverbs 20:26).
However, the authorities do not always provide this kind of protection. This could be due to incompetence, corruption, or even the limits of their humanity (they are not omniscient or omnipotent as God is).
Unfortunately, it is also true at times that oppression comes from those who are in positions of civil authority. The wise man acknowledged this possibility by saying, “It is not good to fine the righteous, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness” (Proverbs 17:26). Rather than punishing the wicked, civil authorities sometimes punish the righteous. They take those who are simply trying to be left alone and provide for their own and harass them, sometimes to the point of poverty.
What We Are to Do
These four factors – laziness, bad decisions, calamities, and oppression – will exist as long as the earth stands because we live in a world that has been corrupted by sin. So, knowing that poverty will not be eliminated, what are we to do?
#1 – Work hard. Paul told the brethren in Thessalonica, “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). Before saying that those who are not willing to work are not to eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10), Paul offered himself as an example. He worked night and day so that he would not need help from others. The wise man said, “A worker’s appetite works for him, for his hunger urges him on” (Proverbs 16:26).*** By God’s design, our need for food motivates us to work.
#2 – Exercise good stewardship. The wise man said, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, the lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will bring the price of a field, and there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and sustenance for your maidens” (Proverbs 27:23-27). The point of this passage is that exercising good stewardship helps guard against the trouble that comes during economic and political uncertainty**** – which we are certainly facing now.
#3 – Help others. Paul wrote, “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need” (Ephesians 4:28). It is not enough just to provide for ourselves. As we are able, we should also seek to help others. “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:10). However, on this point, keep in mind what we noticed earlier. Paul explained that those who were not willing to work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Rather than enabling their laziness, we need to allow them to face hunger in hopes that it will do what God intended and motivate them to work (Proverbs 16:26).
#4 – Develop relationships with godly people. The psalmist wrote, “I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). That verse does not say that the righteous will never be poor. One who does what is right, works hard, and exercises good stewardship can still face poverty. Yet one of the reasons why “the righteous” will not beg is because they will associate with other righteous people.***** They will have close ties to those who are seeking to do good to others, “especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). This is one of the benefits we have in the Lord’s church. We have brethren who are willing to help us in need, just as we are willing to help them (cf. Acts 4:32, 34-35).
Conclusion
Is it possible to end poverty? No. We may sympathize with the poor and try to help them as we are able, yet Jesus said, “You always have the poor with you” (John 12:8). Knowing this, we need to work hard, be good stewards of the blessings God has given, help others as we have the opportunity to do so, and build relationships with other like-minded and faithful brethren.
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* For more on this point, see The Application of Wisdom: Work – part of a study on Proverbs
** For more on this point, see The Application of Wisdom: Stewardship (Part 1), Stewardship (Part 2)
*** For more on this point, see the article, A Worker’s Appetite
**** For more on this point, see the article, Know Well the Condition of Your Flocks
***** For more on this point, see the article, Why the Righteous Do Not Beg
