Comments on: Eliminate Poverty: Can We Do It or Not?

By: Lindy

Lindy — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:17:10 +0000

I did not get a chance to reply to this post when I first read it, but if I’d had the time, I would have said something very similar to Bob’s reply. As long as there are corrupt and greedy people following their own desires, rather than God’s, there will be poor among us, and if you look at some of the Psalms and elsewhere in scripture, you see God’s great heart of love and concern for the poor, the needy, the orphans, and the widows. I love the book of James, and one of the themes in it is God’s heart for the poor!

By: Brianne Mullins

Brianne Mullins — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 04:54:12 +0000

I have so enjoyed reading all your comments. A very rich conversation!

Thanks for the time you all have spent sharing your thoughts and seeking the Lord’s heart in this matter.

I am excited for the conversation ahead as we continue to unravel this a little bit more!

By: James Lanchester

James Lanchester — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:08:49 +0000

The poor will always be with you, but I will not always be with you.
I think that he is saying that when he is no longer here to take care of the poor, it is up to us, to take care of them.You can never out give God. If you give away what you have, there will always be more. He will never leave us, nor forsake us. We need to trust him to supply what we need, and give away what is over, and above what we need.

By: Mike Stephens

Mike Stephens — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:58:55 +0000

what do I think…I thought of babies b/c babies always need help, if someone doesn’t help them they will die b/c they don’t know how to do anything yet. We will always have babies and we will always have poor people just like someone wins the race and someone gets last. I figure Compassion’s work is similar to the movie the Matrix. We are trying to release children from poverty but it is not easy and some people do not want to be released. And some people that are released may want to go back and others want to be released but we haven’t found them yet to be released. So Matthew 6:33 “But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.” I think we should work to help as many needs as we can b/c “we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up.”

By: Cheryl J

Cheryl J — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:14:50 +0000

Even if the poor will always be with us, we can help some people out of poverty. Just because we can’t end it doesn’t mean that what we are doing doesn’t make a world of difference for those we can reach out to. And, of course, they will reach out to others who will reach out to others. And the gift goes on…

By: Jen

Jen — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:09:41 +0000

Deut 15:4 is conditional on always strictly obeying the whole of God’s instruction; later in 15:11 it says “there will never cease to be poor in your land.” God knew we would not strictly obey the whole of His counsel which is why later we are told there will always be poor. Jesus was quoting the torah (Deut 15:11) when He said that in John 12:8… Read More. However, when he comes back as king, there will be no poor among us. Until then we need to “give freely and open our hand to the needy”; in that way we can make “His kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”

By: Beth

Beth — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:40:38 +0000

If you read John 12, you’ll see that Jesus isn’t speaking of spiritual poverty but material poverty. It’s the passage where the woman anointed him with the extremely expensive bottle of perfume and Judas felt it should have been sold and the money given to the poor.
I also read Deuteronomy 15 and agree with Bob (above). You can’t take scripture out of context. God’s command in this chapter deals with forgiving loans, being generous and simply taking care of each other. The letter of James (chpt 4) also speaks to this issue.

By: Teri Schultz

Teri Schultz — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:37:05 +0000

It says “should”…

But as humans with free will in a fallen world there will always be poverty because some will choose to exploit resources for personal gain or will choose to be lazy and expect others to provide or will choose to abandon their responsibilities (families) without provisions.

By: Amy Wallace

Amy Wallace — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:53:04 +0000

Perhaps John 12:8 is talking about the spiritually poor, and not the materially poor. Jesus was saying that He wouldn’t always be on earth to perform miracles and teach, so we have to be the ones to tell people about Jesus.

If this verse is talking about the materially poor, that could put us into the mindset that if we can’t solve poverty, then what would be the sense of trying? And I guess I never thought about how hopeless a message this verse would be for those living in poverty.

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:12:18 +0000

If you read a few verses down to Deuteronomy 15:11, you'll see: For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, 'You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.' Deuteronomy 15:11, ESV You can't isolate 15:4 from 15:5... the statement "But there will be no poor among you", is followed by "If". Unfortunately we never rise to the God's commands that follow verse 5. Yes, the poor will always be here with us. But like the blind man Jesus heals in John, the poor exist to display the glory of God's kingdom. "How?", you may ask... in many ways... One way is through us, as we serve and care for the poor. They are there before us. Everywhere we turn. And God watches on as some turn our heads away, and move to the other side of the street, and pass by the poor, while others stop and comfort them. Which are you?