Tag Archives: Poverty

Rampant Poverty

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It is true that in this world there are the poor.  It is also true that the world makes much commotion about this.  They fire one another up to eradicate poverty.  But no headway is ever accomplished.  As soon as they release one into productivity, five more take his place.

Unfortunately what is true in the world is also true in the church.  There is a poverty  that cannot be solved with the resources of this world.  And it does not dress itself in visible rags.

Those who are rich in the forgiveness of Christ often seal up their wealth as if it can be stolen.  And I find myself unable to speak of the power of God absent from display in my brothers.

While the world walks about destitute and ragged, many Christians live happy peaceful lives.  While the resources of the world are gobbled up by greed, the resources of Christ are often hidden from the masses by fear.

Does this make sense to anyone?

The world carries on great campaigns to solve a problem that will never go away.  But doesn’t the “Modern” church find itself doing the same thing?

It has become a virtually impossible task to tell the difference between the “good people” of this world and the “Modern” Christian Church.  No wonder the poverty of soul is so widely spread.

A simple question, addressed to every Christian:  “Are those who know you even aware that you are a Christian?”

I guess there is one place of solace.  Both horrific forms of poverty will find their conclusion at the Holy throne of God.

1 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3)

By His Grace

Victorious in Loss

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Among people, who are those who suffer well?  It is those who own nothing of what they own.

These are prepared to lose everything, even while they have it all.  It is the one who is determined, while in wealth and health, to die penniless and miserable.  This one cannot be held hostage to expectations full of error.  If prosperity of possessions continues to a peaceful death in his own bed, such a one will have lived his life without fear of loss.

Though all he has is taken.  Though sickness viciously tears at his body.  Though the wicked greed of man rips his belongings from his control.  This one will prosper.

Yet is it enough to be stoic in our life?  Is it necessary to pass by the loaf of bread while you have money and hunger?  Is it right to purchase the rust bucket chariot so that you will suffer the pains of upkeep?  Is it required of us to live under a pile of leaves in a part of the forest we don’t, and can’t own?  Such people are not being responsible with what has been given them.

What provokes the Responsible life?  Is it the desire of a man to become completely humble among all men?  That mind-set is produced from the pride of life.  Pride can’t, by its very nature, produce humility.  Such a man might feel pretty proud of himself, after all, he has forsaken what other people crave.   But his humility is crushed by a whisper of pride.

Jesus provokes the true strength of life.  His strength in a man is beyond ALL the things of this world.  Because His teaching and “in dwelling” comes from Heaven; a place which has never entertained the temporary wealth of this place.  And NEVER will.

If we want to be strong.  If we want to endure with stellar conviction.  If we want to live that “over coming” life, we will have to appropriate the teaching and character of the Lord Jesus.  While we live in relative peace, it is best to be prepared for the worst.  Let us not compile “things” so that we will be able to endure hardship.  Let us prepare our heart to be God’s champion, even if the entire world comes after us.

How does cancer become a trophy to be desired?  How does molestation become a crown of joy?  How does losing our job, or place in the family,  become a stepping stone to eternally born victory?  All these things, and the myriad of things that can happen to a person, become glory when we embrace failure.  We love our weakness, because it gives us an opportunity to overcome!  Even our own sins can become trophies of Grace.  Such things  can produce a certain kind of humility that cannot be manufactured by the desire of a man.  Nor can it be purchased by any of our possessions.

We encounter hardship for the sake of Christ.  We encounter hardship for the sake of testifying that God’s love and promise are vastly more, and true, than anything the world can provide.  We testify that life can be lived, even while this world has strapped us to a post in the middle of a raging fire.  We can clap our charred hands, even while the skin of our bodies walks toward becoming a lump of coal.  Thus, we encourage others to love the God who bestows such incredible strength.

Let us testify that God in us, is greater than all things.  Prosperity, health, wealth, sickness, persecution, joy, poverty, alienation, or fame,  cannot take away the riches of Christ in any man!  It is the man who counts any of these things as more valuable or stronger than the promise of God.  This is the one who will likely lose it ALL.

The Grant

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Let the man who perceives his poverty go to the rich man.  Let the pauper ask for a grant.  If the rich man is truly rich, he will accent.

But let the pauper stay a while to gain wisdom in dispensing this wealth.  For he did not know how to tend to his own.  How will he now tend to that which is freely given?  Won’t he become a pauper again?

Let regret stay a long distance from your door, O’ Pauper.  Stay and learn from he who knows how to retain.

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I have millions of regrets for things I’ve done.  But I cannot allow a singular item to become an item of regret.

I have received a luxurious grant from the Lord, through the wisdom and diligence of an elderly man.

Many years ago, I became a Christian.  When that happened, the Lord brought a wonderful example of Christianity to me.

I learned volumes, regarding the diligence necessary to retain what I had been granted.

Regret came decades later when I realized I left that wonderful man far too soon.  I did end up squandering that wealth, to some degree.
And I paid a heavy price for about 10 years.

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So let it be that a man who perceives his poverty should go to He who is rich beyond measure.  Let him ask.  He will receive.

But let that beggar stay a while.  Let him sit at the feet of a God sent mentor.  Let come what may, secure diligence!

Inexpensive Poverty

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It affects us all; the infection of want.  And a world of commerce which lowers the prices of goods aids in its own decline.

The rich get richer, while the poor become more greedy.  Empty houses fill up with shining objects.  Thus lives are lit on fire with trouble.  Thus invisible greed takes shapes we can hold. 

Financial ruin brings poverty back home.  But this time poverty lives in a house filled with shining objects, and greedy eyes.  But it is not just shining objects which bring poverty.  Moral decay is worse.

A society that does not divide between righteousness and sin, is bound to bring eternal poverty.  The lust for women is set on fire by inexpensive clothing, jewelry, perfumes, and makeup.  The lust for the man who has a nice car, clothing, house, and purchased social position, sets ablaze the wayward wife’s desire.  And all of this a godless society promotes with abandon.

The children learn early that divorce is an option.  No longer are they taught to work out their troubles.  Mommy and daddy prove that righteousness can be attained through the back door.  The children are taught to bind quitting with their vows.  The word “vow” becomes diluted and worthless.  The once stable world spins out of control.

The wicked man never wonders why he does what he does.  The greedy man simply reaches for “more” to massage his aching conscience.  But time moves by and the cost increases.  Time goes by, and the expense of poverty increases exponentially.

The life span of a man does not give him the luxury of finding righteousness by mistake.  As if we stumble over a stack of 100 dollar bills as we walk down the street.  The odds of finding righteousness by happenstance are billions to one.

Blessed is the man who is concerned by his wickedness.  Blessed is the man who wakes in the night for fear of what he has done.  Blessed is the one who allows himself to feel burning and consuming regret.  Blessed is the man who panics for the sake of his wrongdoing.  This one has the potential of learning to do what is right.

Blessed are those who have never tasted wantonness.  Those beautiful souls who have patiently endured with what they have.  Blessed is the one who considers greed a sin, and keeps his hands to himself.

The proverb still rings true:  every man will reap what he has sown.  But a godless world teaches that this is a lie.

By His Grace

Shining Folly

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It has come and stolen what is precious.  But no one seems to notice.  The treasury of man has been ransacked while the guards were sleeping.

Even making this proclamation requires that the story be told of the things that have been stolen.  For humanity has forgotten its used to own a precious gift.

A man was walking down the street.  In his pocket he had 7 golden coins.  His hand would not leave his pocket while he walked about in public.  This is how lovingly he protected his wealth.

A stealthy creature, dressed in white, stepped out of an alley in front of him.  With beaming smile he addressed the man.  “I am pleasantly rich and have chosen you, that I may grant you the desire of your heart”.  So the creature spoke to the man.

Because the creature was lovely, and the offer so desired, the man stopped to listen.  “What do you offer and how much do you require?” 

With entrancing eyes and a beautiful smile, the creature produced a shining large coin.  Its beauty was magnificent and it seemed to hum in the hands of the creature.  The man’s heart was set ablaze with desire. “This coin is rare indeed.  It has been mined from a place where only three men have ever been able to reach.  But because I have chosen you, all I require are 7 gold coins.”

Without another thought the 7 coins in the man’s pocket were exchanged.  With best wishes they parted company and the man left for his duties.

He could have spent the 7 gold coins that were in his pocket.  He could have thrived well for the rest of his life on what property he did own.  But he exchanged it for a worthless plug of metal. 

For two reasons it is worthless.  Because it is not the currency of the land, no one will exchange it for goods.  And because the man thinks it is more precious than his very life, he will not part with it.  So the man is ruined though he does not perceive it.

To poverty he plunged before he took the first step away from the creature. Man has exchanged a very valuable resource for the things that do not last.

In the days before technology men believed in deity.  This is the time of which is written, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” (Galatians 4: 4)

With what will man today reach to purchase the things that last forever?  He has exchange his wealth for shining folly.

God’s people yearn to see a love for the living God displayed in all men.  But they will not listen because they have exchanged their wealth for that which will not last.

By His Grace

The Building of Elegant Poverty

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Outside the battered door is a courtyard of gravel.  Here men walk without shoes and fall to their ravaged knees.  Yet there is smooth cool stone inside, bloodstained by the feet and knees of those who have entered.

The plants which adorn the court are but missshapen bushes, yet elegant to he who owns the place.  By design, its appearance refuses the praise of the elegant and proud.  Only the desperate poor come here.

Within the door, the floor shines from wearing.  Billions of feet have scuffed it to a fine polish.  The walls depict the beauty of promise; the promise of hope and the promise of accomplishment. 

Those who enter are bid “Welcome”.  While embrace endures restraint.  Commanded are they who attend the visitors, “Help them with what they need.  But let us see what they will do”.

The floors above, stage by stage, present a new Horizon.  Each stairwell guarded carefully and hidden behind the most narrow of doors.  Only with the proper password and consent, may anyone ascend.

Above the floors which one may enter, is a building in the works.  No one is allowed past the ceiling of the top floor until the work is finished on the next.

No news of preparation comes from those who build.  No revealing of the grandeur they put in place is told or seen.  Yet as each floor was finished there were men prepared to climb.  So it will be until its completion.

“As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.”