Being poor is not a sin and you have not sinned if you have not yet overcome poverty. However, it is not expedient for taking care of everything the LORD called you to do. You may have been born into poverty or come into it through oppression or ungodly activities of other people. However, when your life is not fruitful, profitable, and prosperous in accordance with scripture, you should ask the LORD if you are doing things that are sinful or allowing weights upon you that conflict with the actions needed to overcome poverty. For example, some people remain poor because they fail to believe in the promises embedded in scripture that show greater opportunities and promotion come to those who seek the LORD, consecrate their work unto Him, live & work based on His standards, and trust that He will provide their need according to His riches in glory.
Even though some people are irresponsible and fail to be disciplined, many Christians and other people still reach out to them and attempt to help them better their lives in many different ways (direct help, charity, mentoring, training, employment opportunities, etc.). Unfortunately, there will always be some poor on earth because no matter what we do people have free will and some choose not to do what could better their lives. To others, poverty may be a socio-economic place they are in right now due to various social, cultural, economic, or political influences. If that is you, believe the LORD made a way for your escape. Then, worship, praise, and work via employing biblical principles that move you out of the poverty cycle into the fruitful, prosperous place the LORD prepared for you.
Don’t be haughty or prideful and think you’re better than others when you have a greater measure of earthly wealth. Also, don’t feel bad about being prosperous unless the wealth comes from oppression, criminality, or other ungodly activities. Continue to be a good example and reach out and help in ways that you can and that you are called by God to do. Many will be helped by your extended helping hand and escape poverty then reach back to help others escape its grip thereby widening the sphere of influence the LORD gives you.
More importantly we must understand this scenario: men will be most miserable in this world and in the life to come if we do not introduce them to Jesus Christ and they do not consider relationship with Him and His instruction more important than their daily food and anything else that could be desired. Therefore, that should be our primary mission. Helping pull people out of poverty must coincide with that aim. Because for any of us, rich or poor, it does not profit a man to gain the world but lose his soul! Therefore, giving a person bread and helping him obtain earthly wealth does him no lasting good if he later experiences the judgment of eternal damnation (Hell) because he failed to believe in Jesus Christ who is able to eternally save his soul.
Please pray for this ministry, email me with any questions, and contact me to speak at your business/ministry’s conference/workshop. May the LORD bless you richly as you follow His plan!
Isaiah 10:1-3, Proverbs 22:4, Mark 11:23, Luke 4:17-19, 1Corinthians 10:23-24, 3John 1:2
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