We can only reduce poverty. The rich and the poor HAVE to exist–just like night and day. They should exist to complement each other, and thus, create balance in the society.

If I as a Christian doubt what God says He will do for me, am I to expect anything from Him in return? The word says no. So will I be poor? Yes.

Some register “being poor” as being humble, humility though can show it’s head the best in the head and heart of the rich man then in the head and heart of a poor man or woman; wouldn’t you agree?

Something to think about.

So, in that sense, we won’t ever end poverty. There is so much poverty even here in the Western countries. And if you really look at it, the very financially successful people and rich people are many times even the poorest of the poor, because they don’t realize how needy they are. (I’m generalizing very much here. I don’t believe that every financial rich person is lost)

Kees

I believe we can end poverty b/c it is defined by a certain standard of living, however with poverty eradicated there will still be poor people just not under the poverty line. I think ending poverty would be like trying to end AIDS even if it was done there are tons of diseases I have never heard of that people are working tirelessly to end. I am not suggesting that it is not worthwhile or hopeless but somewhat insourmountable when looked at as a whole. But just like taking one child and releasing them from poverty makes a world of difference to that one person and that one family and that one community and that one country and inevitably that one world so does helping one person with AIDS or any other disease. So by ending poverty for 1 person we have ended poverty for the world. I will never get tired of hearing the starfish story b/c it is so profound especially when you are the starfish or have been the starfish in a certain situation!!!!!!! I believe when one sponsor helps end poverty for one child that poverty has been eradicated/ended b/c to that one person poverty no longer exists to them. So a world of poverty has been eradicated from them. It exists for others but not them. I don’t think the issue is poverty. The Bible says life is a mist and our inheritance for eternity is in heaven. So do I want a trillion dollars right now for maybe 77 years of my short life on earth or 1 penny doubled everyday for eternity in heaven? It is easy for me to say this b/c I have way more than I need!!!!!!!

I live in Michigan and I know that I’m VERY blessed to live in the USA. I’m blessed that I have a roof over my head and food to eat and access to education. But I think that some of it is the “out of sight, out of mind” concept. Many who live in the USA, including myself sometimes, get insulated away from the rest of the world. We get so wrapped up in our own issues, which may or may not be important in the grand scheme, that we forget just how blessed we are.

I’m learning more and more as I grow older. When I was young, we were incredibly poor, by American standards. My dad had his own business but lost it during the early 80’s recession and since he was the owner, he didn’t qualify for unemployment benefits. While my parents tried to shield me from the realities of our life, I was smart enough to make connections such as “If we don’t have money for this $1 book I want, how can we have money for food/clothes/etc.” My parents told us that people in our church gave us money and we (my brother and I) know that the first Christmas after my Dad lost his business, we wouldn’t have HAD Christmas if not for family and friends.

But even amidst all that, looking back now, we were still better off than so many people in this world. My parents, through the support of family, friends and our church were able to hold onto our house so I never even knew just how close we came to losing it until about the last 5 years. So I never had to deal with sleeping in the shacks that the children Compassion works with have to sleep in. There was always food to eat – though sometimes it wasn’t much, it was more than what many Compassion children live on each day.

All this to say that even with my upbringing, sometimes I know I lose sight of just how blessed we are in this country. And I think that DOES play a part in poverty throughout the world. If it’s not in your face day after day, it’s easy to get ensconced in our comfortable lives and just think that everyone has the same life we do.

Part of what I love about this blog is that with it, the poverty and neglect in the world ARE in your face and my face everyday and it helps remind me of just how blessed I am and renews my commitment to do all I can for my sponsored kids.

So I think the “out of sight, out of mind” definitely plays a big role in it too.

Seriously- thanks for your comments Kees. But this post is about “why we can’t end poverty”, so maybe another place (”Your blog or mine?” ) would be appropriate to discuss what God has said and is still saying, about the ruling of men over other men…

Hi, Joel,

A couple of points that I wanted to throw out.

1. I agree with you wholeheartedly that the Bible has a lot to say about many topics, including politics, economics, sociology, psychology and even topics like Physics. (stating that the earth is a sphere, before it was known in Isa. 40:22).

I have a little bit of a difficulty with your statement that “the whole bible is about God progressively eradicating slavery from humanity, and teaching people about freedom”. That’s not the main message of the Bible. I will admit that it talks about that, but it certainly isn’t the main message. The Bible is instruction how people can live a life glorifying God. As a matter of fact, there is quite a bit of instruction, how people can live a life glorifying God in the midst of slavery. Also, that instruction is both to the slave owner and the slave. The instruction isn’t to set the slave free. That’s more of a modern westernized message. (BTW, I’m not saying that I’m for slavery)

Yes, Romans 13 states clearly that the purpose of government is the bearing of the sword. You might also want to read the books of Leviticus through Deuteronomy. Although these laws are given to Israel, it is the only example of a National law that God gave to a country and what types of laws, He instituted. It is very interesting to look through which realms that the government gets involved in here and where not and what are the consequences for not following these laws, etc…

Again, I’m not stating the church should live under Old Testament law, because the church is not a nation like Israel was. I would not suggest the church to start carrying out capital punishment for instance, like Israel was instructed to do. I know this is whole other can of worms I’m opening here.

Kees

80 comments, and very little on the question that I think should arise in one’s mind immediately on reading the phrase “Why We Can’t End Poverty”, which is: “What is poverty?”

Also, very little on politics. There’s a LOT of stuff about politics in the Hebrew scriptures. Anyone ever read 1 Samuel 8, very carefully?

Shockingly, not a whole lot of discussion here about the connection between poverty and slavery. I think the whole bible is about God progressively eradicating slavery from humanity, and teaching people about freedom.

Who is poor? The one who owns very little. Who is a slave? The one who owns nothing at all, not even himself. But even if someone “legally” owns you (like the U.S. government “legally” owns about 25% of my personal economic output), ownership is in the mind.

Romans 13 tells us that God instituted “authorities”, who were put there *in order to restrain evil*. He did not put “authorities” there in order to fill up every individual’s field of vision, so that nothing can be done without their say-so. The time has passed when the only way that order can be kept, is through a taxing state.

Re-read “render unto Caesar”, and tell me if you really believe that Jesus’ cryptic response represents an endorsement of governments.

Anyway, government is the very LAST place we should be looking, for an “end” to “poverty”.