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The Poor |
During times of economic down turns, people may begin to consider what it is like to have money problems, or even to be poor, or not. Poverty is a complicated subject. What is poverty in one nation is plenty in another. To further complicate the subject, the causes of poverty are many and diverse. Just because a person may be considered poor does not mean they are needy. We need, but not necessarily are needy, some definitions and example culled from the Bible. Definitions Poverty is often defined by the government or governing authorities. In ancient Israel, poor were judge according to the truth, or the Truth. In this definition, the word for poor is dal, whose definition I embedded within the verse containing the word. Prov. 29:14 If a king judges the poor (1800. l;Addal, dal; from 1809; properly, dangling, i.e. (by implication) weak or thin: 1809. lAl ;∂ddalal, daw-lal´; a primitive root (compare 1802); to slacken or be feeble; figuratively, to be oppressed:) with truth. These are the needy because they are weak, feeble or oppressed either externally or from internal problems like health. These have not contributed by their actions or attitudes to their impecuniousness. Some poor remain without great means but neither are destitute and in need of help. Some may want to help these poor, but that is a problem. Would the help interfere with their innate ability to resolve their problems and make them dependent and lazy. Or, would their help make them better fishermen. We need to understand who is needy or not. The word for poor in the following definition is miskane. Eccl. 9:16 Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s (4542. N;EkVsIm micçken, mis-kane´; from 5531; indigent:) wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. These poor seem to have insight and wisdom, but because of their economic position people refrain from heeding them. Yet these poor are lacking only in material goods, which may or may not be necessary for the good life. The following definition of rush, for poor, talks about being in want but not necessarily in need of essentials — food, clothing and shelter. This poor person does not con people into giving him money or goods because he walks in his integrity, actually God’s Way. While the Bible often talks of the crooked rich, integrity can an innate feature of all people, if they will. Prov. 28:6 Better is the poor (7326. v…wr rush [930d]; a prim. root; to be in want or poor: who walks in his integrity Another Hebrew word for poor is ani, which is also translated as poor. Ani’s translation is usually afflicted and needy. In some cases, it is translated afflicted in reference to animals. When the afflicted need the necessities, they should receive special consideration as the following verse notes. Ex. 22:25 ¶ “If you lend money to My people, to the poor (6041. yˆnDo ani [776d]; from 6031a; poor, afflicted, humble) among you, you are not to act as a creditor to him; you shall not charge him interest. The last Hebrew word for poor is ebyon. These poor lack one or more of the basics of food, clothing and shelter. They are poor because they, too, are afflicted in circumstance outwardly or inwardly. Anything from nature to government brought these poor to their situation, and because they cannot alleviate their circumstance by themselves, they need help. Psa. 12:5 “Because of the devastation of the afflicted (34. NwøyVbRa ebyon [2d]; from 14; in want, needy, poor:), because of the groaning of the needy, Causes of Poverty:
The people who are unable to obtain their basic necessities, need help. In ancient times, the Levite could not grow his food or build his shelter because, obviously, he inherited no land, as did the rest of Israel. His inheritance was to be a Levite and serve God and His People. Therefore, God decreed that the people would provide for their sustenance and other needs. We know that part of the tithe then went to the Levites. Under certain definitions, the Levites would be considered poor, but not poor in service to God and Israel. God, because Israel was an alien in Egypt, decreed aliens, as receiving particular advantage. The Bible defines aliens as sojourners, who live according to Israeli laws and behave as residents. (Lev. 17:8, 13) Aliens, however, who continue in the ways of paganism, must be put to death according to laws of Israel given by God. (Lev. 20:2) It is also inferred that aliens also keep the Sabbath, as well. (Lev. 25:6) Finally, the Bible says aliens, living legally in Israel, should not be oppressed like a poor servant. Obviously, those who are poor due to their station in life must be helped. The Bible considers the orphans, children without parents for whatever reason, must receive food, clothing and shelter by the goodness of those who can provide for them. Today, some countries have the state provide programs and shelter for them. These are variously called child services organizations. When a woman loses her husband, and she has no one to provide for her because she might be one of the few who has no experience in providing for herself, at least at first, which might be marketable, would need help until she would able to care for herself, she became poor through no fault of her own. Poverty can overtake people by circumstance beyond their control. These poor should be taken care of. There are other poor that may have brought their situation upon themselves. Their poverty is unfortunate but not beyond their own control, as we will see later. Deut. 14:29 “The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do. Poverty comes upon people through no fault or blame of their own. They may become injured and unable to work, or worse yet they may have been born with a debilitating illness preventing them from taking care of themselves. These poor need help not fault finding. As people age, if they were foolish enough not to plan for their old age, they may be unable to provide for themselves. While the fault for their poverty rests with them, still they should not be homeless and hungry. The same is true when drought or other unknown circumstances come upon people, who then find themselves poor. These, too, are responsible for their indigence, but should not be allowed to starve. On the other hand, the example of assisting people who have brought their problems upon themselves maybe the wrong example to send to some. Others looking at those who have only lived for the moment and not prepared for the future set an example to them never to imitate that kind of foolish behavior. Other afflictions come upon even the most careful, which deserve help. Furthermore, God attends to the misery afflicted upon them and blesses those who are equally moved by their reaction to their plight. 2Sam. 22:28 “And You save an afflicted people; Is. 41:17 ¶ “The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, Deut. 26:7 ‘Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction and our toil and our oppression; Psa. 82:3 Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Of course, those who become poor cannot hope to live at the same standard they were once used to. The aged may have to live with their children, other relatives, the concerned younger ones or some sort of agency to take care of them. At the same time those assisting the poor, must not take advantage of them as the following verses attest. Lev. 25:35 ¶ ‘Now in case a countryman of yours becomes poor and his means with regard to you falter, then you are to sustain him, like a stranger or a sojourner, that he may live with you.
Natural calamities become secondary to calamities derived from a source one should not expect, from their rulers and government. Without going into copious example, modern governments, like autocratic rulers of old, tend to cause teems of people to become poor and destitute. And, while we often cannot fight the injustices governments bring, we can step up to save the poor from hunger and destitution brought upon them. Eccl. 5:8 ¶ If you see oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them. Prov. 28:15 ¶ A wicked ruler is as dangerous to the poor as a roaring lion or an attacking bear. Prov. 13:23 Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor, Prov. 28:16 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, Some of the wealthiest people in history are rulers that take property, goods and money from their own people, who have the same national identity and racial characteristics. They kill and steal from their own, like their own children. Without going into the details of the Idi Amins’ or Saddam Husseins’ of the world, these amass fortunes by making their own impoverished. Even in democratic governments, many legislators, executives and judges have chequered pasts filled with graft and abuse. Adding to these miscarriages of justice, those outside of government find many ways to influence those in government by illegal means. Enormous guilt rests upon these wicked rulers and governments and, where possible, citizens must first attend to the ominous results and then find ways to change rulers and government policies by whatever means possible — hopefully peaceably. It must be considered here that many, if not almost all, charities use most of the contributors’ monies to maintain the organization and attend to the poor. A tiny few, however, take the money contributed and use it for personal gain, in effect robbing both the contributor and the poor. Here injustice is compounded by abuse and robbery. Among these a few use contributed monies for real help for the poor. These poor found poverty desperately seeking them out through no fault of their own.
Not all wealthy gain their affluence by thievery and oppression, but by hard work and concern for others. Many, however, obtain fortunes by evil means, which hurt any who may get in their way or interfere with their prosperity and its increase. Wealth and the desire to gain it can become an addiction to some, which makes them revel in its increase at any cost. In fact, these continue along the line of their primary mentor, Satan. The root of the love of money is the demon: Ezek. 28:5 “By your great wisdom, by your trade Furthermore, the love of money, God equates with idolatry, i.e., the worship of Satan in all its forms from the sun to the false son. The greedy have the propensity to oppress and steal from all, especially the poor who have less power than those with greater possessions. Col. 3:5 ¶ Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. Psa. 62:10 Do not trust in oppression Jesus tells the story of Lazarus, a poor man, whom the rich man within the gates gave no assistance to him. He kept Lazarus in a state of poverty by his inaction, for whatever reason. God rewarded his negligence properly in the end time. Luke 16:19 ¶ “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.
Oppression of the poor is not the prerogative only of government, wealthy and powerful, any one can add to a poor person’s position. Furthermore, poverty does not relegate itself to material goods, for a person can be poor in other aspects, such as, looks, personality, social skills, adroitness and so forth. These aspects of poverty are not of the poor person’s passion but of circumstances beyond his control, not to say that some of these may be overcome, as we will see later. Some people just like to oppress others for reasons we can only guess. Maybe it makes them feel important or perhaps they are sadistic. Nonetheless the poor seem unable to escape their circumstances. For some the oppression can lead to a stimulus to change their attitude and behavior; for others they cannot change their weaknesses and infirmities no matter how hard they may try. Prov. 14:31 He who oppresses the poor taunts his Maker, Deut. 24:14 ¶ “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your countrymen or one of your aliens who is in your land in your towns. Zech. 7:10 and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’ Job 24:9 “Others snatch the orphan from the breast, Ex. 22:22 “You shall not afflict any widow or orphan. Conclusion Situations such as injury, illness, age, drought, famine, affliction can cause people to be needy through no fault of their own. We need to differentiate from those who are poor because of circumstances beyond their control like widows and orphans, disasters and drought, oppressed and afflicted from those who make themselves poor by their attitudes and life styles. The next article will deal with those bring poverty upon themselves and beg so they will not have to gain independence by doing right. Even so, not all the poor deem themselves needy or in need of assistance. These will live within their means, even if it means living frugally. |
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Causes of Poverty |
While some poor cannot control the situation they are in, others became indigent because of their own attitudes and actions. 1 Samuel 2:7-9 sets up for us the parameters of how the poor get into the condition they are in and how they might extricate themselves. 1Sam. 2:7 “The LORD makes poor and rich; The above verse makes us wonder why God chooses to make certain people poor and others are rich. Our particular interest is in the poor. This article attempts to define the reasons people make themselves poor and remain that way. Rebellion As we know the creation embodies the Commandments because God created his world out of His very Nature and made the Commandments growing out of that Nature as its foundation. In fact, it is logical to think that God’s goodness exemplified by the Commandments is the foundation of the creation. When people obey God’s law, they are blessed for their obedience. For example, a person would not jump off a tall building with out a parachute (or a tether of some sort) perhaps because the law of gravity would cause the person to fall rapidly to the ground at an acceleration of 32 feet per second, per second and kill him. The moral laws of God are not as obvious. Just as keeping physical laws provide safety and other positive results, not keeping physical laws can result in disaster or problems. This phenomenon is called cause and effect. God created a host of physical laws, which through time, mankind has learned of their existence and effects. For example, farmers learned the necessity of water upon the growth of plants; when rain does not occur as needed, the farmer finds ways to bring water from other sources such as rivers and lakes. Obviously, some people become poor because of things beyond their control. Some others bring poverty upon themselves because of their rebellion against God’s Laws regarding, not only morality, but the laws regarding human relation and economics, which could, of course, be within the realm of morality. Nonetheless, people who disregard God’s Laws must come to poverty just as falling without a parachute will bring injury or worse. Those who steal to get rich will eventually find their wealth gone. Perhaps the authorities might indict the thieves who might end up in jail. Those who lie to get rich will be found out, their reputations ruined and their lives will plunge into increasing hardship. Those who break their marriage vows often end up in divorce with their ex-wives getting a large amount of their wealth, which would reduce their assets greatly. In other cases, the wives can end up without their usual income, which they may or may not be able to make up. In most cases, both become, if not poor, at least poorer, in more ways than money. Additionally the ones who spend time coveting others’ wealth will not have time to create means for themselves. These few examples show how breaking the Law can reduce the Lawbreakers to poverty. Deut. 28:47 “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things; Neh. 9:35 “But they, in their own kingdom, 2Chr. 7:19 “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods and worship them, The next few verses offer ways a lawbreaker can be brought back from poverty. 2Chr. 6:24 “If Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they return to You and confess Your name, and pray and make supplication before You in this house, Futile Occupations As suggested above, there are activities that can leave a person destitute and impoverished, if not bordering on poverty. Like a covetous person, who lives life desiring others’ property, these engage in futile activities. Expanding on covetousness, some desire to have a prestigious position similar to the one they covet, and they turn their attention to gaining that kind of position. If he obtains a similar status, he may hold on to it even if it means not being sufficiently remunerated, which does not put food on the table or keep shelter over his head. God tells people to labor six days; yet, engaging in activities that do not grow food, build equipment (for example), or get enough salary to pay for food, clothing or shelter will end up in poverty. These may desire to grow flowers instead of potatoes, raise rabbits instead of sheep and build pergolas instead of houses. As an alternative to working on occupations which will bring them food and the necessities of life, they would rather polish their egos instead of polishing an apple they grew. Some dreamers have their dreams fulfilled, but most end up living in a nightmare. In today’s society, few actually grow their own food; yet, people need to work in jobs, which bring sufficient monies to buy food, not work for ego satisfaction to buy gratification. These have no one to blame for their lack of resources or their poverty. Prov. 28:19 He who tills his land will have plenty of food, Prov. 12:11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread, Psa. 49:20 Man in his pomp, yet without understanding, If a person does not learn to earn, he may never understand the value of his position or wealth. In history, biblical and otherwise, the sons of great leaders or kings seldom achieve their parents’ success because they did not earn their position and wealth: they were born into it and can never know the difficulties involved in gaining wealth or position. Furthermore, they never learned the skills to be a great leader unless in rare cases where the parents taught their children the rules of success. Solomon, as great as he was, was no David. Louis XIV’s son and grandson mostly undid all that their father and grandfather gave them. In fact, Louis XVI lost the throne entirely. Most children of wealth and position live pampered and selfish lives. The parable of the prodigal son shows what can happen to a person who squanders away that which someone else earned for him. Luke 15:12 “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. The Sluggard The person, who is lazy, causes his own poverty. In many poverty-stricken areas, certain local governments who wish to get people off the welfare rolls must train able-bodied welfare recipients how to work. Only the motivation of losing their welfare checks in a certain time frame compels these people to learn how to work. They have to learn activities as simple as getting up on time in order to be at work on time, to get and use an alarm clock, set it at an appropriate time, say 7am and then they must learn to get up when the alarm rings. Furthermore, they have to learn to go to bed early so they can get up early. Furthermore, they had to learn to wash and dress in a timely manner so that they could get to work on time. The government held classes for these people to teach them how to prepare to be ready for work. They set up practice programs for them to learn to be industrious. Additionally, the people had to learn how to take public transportation to their place of employment. They had to find the nearest station to their home, take the appropriate method of transportation (a bus or train, e.g.) And get off at the appropriate station nearest their place of place of employment; in some cases they may have to make transfers to finally arrive where they need to be, and on time. Giving able-bodied people welfare checks can, in effect, train them to be lazy. As an aside, where children receive poor or no education due to the system or parental ineffectualness, poverty can be a likely result as shown in the above paragraphs. Laziness falls to different categories. Some may be satisfied with the futile occupations they are involved in and may not wish to do the hard work to find an occupation, which would provide a greater income or even wealth. For some it is just too much work to enter a new profession or job. For some, laziness is a time-honored occupation. Indeed, they learn to wield the tin cup most adroitly and cunningly, and they learn how to make others provide for them as they paint a picture of their incapacities. “Woe is me!” Others either make no effort to get a job or work hard on a job. As the Bible says, one look at their house and property, if not their clothing, demonstrates their lack of oomph. They seem to take neglect as a matter of course; they care not how their home or person look, it is who I am. I remember such a student in one of my classes, who once became so involved in an interesting lesson that he actually began to do some work. And amazingly, he suddenly looked around, frowned, shook his head and put his pencil down. He ended up repeating the grade. I guess his motto was rather fail then work. Maybe his repeating the grade taught him a lesson, probably not. Being lazy is like religion to some, and they work at it with a kind of energy, if we may use that word, not caring hard work would bring them a decent living. They seem to be hardened into a position of indolence that few recover from. Today, in certain circles, there seems to be a culture of laziness or indolence. People would buy a piece of property, wait a few years and sell it at a profit. The attitude seems to be why work when a little time will get the same result. Aside from real estate speculators, huge numbers dove into the stock market to buy low and sell high. In each instance, neither of these types was interested in earning money by hard work. Unfortunately, this peculiar aspect of laziness has brought down or damaged an economy, for only hard work, intellect and perspicacity can bring true wealth. Seldom does gaining wealth by scheming last very long. Indeed this kind of laziness brings poverty. Nonetheless few failing speculators seem to energize their capacity for hard work. Conniving cannot circumvent the Fourth Commandment, which tells people to labor for six days. God created the earth in such a way that people must labor to live – obtain food, clothing, shelter and transportation. So aside from the few that become poor by situations beyond their control, the rest bring catastrophe upon themselves by choosing not to work hard at productive jobs or occupations. Prov. 10:4 Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, Prov. 6:10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, Prov. 20:13 Do not love sleep, or you will become poor; Prov. 24:30 I passed by the field of the sluggard Evil Poor Most people become poorer by their lack of righteousness; therefore, the resultant poor may not be so nice. Literature is replete with characters who brought poverty upon themselves and mischief upon others. They connive and enslave the young and witless in order to assuage the poverty they brought upon themselves. Many of Dickens novels attest to this. Those who eschew education and discipline may never attain a position of being well off and comfortable. Prov. 28:3 A poor man who oppresses the lowly Matt. 18:28 “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ Hasty Rushing into a new situation without considering its entire ramification, while probably a form laziness, still leads to poverty. Something that looks good at first glance may not really be worthwhile. Indeed, many a confidence man will rush a person into a decision because he know if the victim really considers it, he will not do it. Besides, some may consider a victim foolish for rushing into a scheme without considering the ramification or doing some necessary research. The Bible gives us plenty of information regarding cause and effect with which to consider instead of rushing into a foolhardy scheme. Prov. 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty. Prov. 19:2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes. Prov. 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, Prov. 20:21An inheritance obtained too early in life is not a blessing in the end. Prov. 28:22 Greedy people try to get rich quick but don’t realize they’re headed for poverty. Withholds Finally, those who refuse to help the truly needy, who are so selfish that they neglect those who cry out for help out of desperate destitutions find themselves, deservedly, in desperate straits after all. Greed leads to poverty. With a little bit of consideration and selflessness, those who honestly become well off or wealthy, would continue to gain wealth as they alleviate the poverty of the needy. Prov. 11:24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more, Lev. 23:22‘When you reap the harvest of your land, moreover, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field nor gather the gleaning of your harvest; you are to leave them for the needy and the alien. I am the LORD your God.’” Conclusion As noted in the last article, there are those who become poor through no fault of their own. However unfortunate these poor are, there exists people who attain poverty by hardly working and worse. They determined their situation by their own efforts or lack there of . In today’s economic downturn, we can observe how disobedience to God’s Way caused it and even hurt some innocents. Thankfully, God gives us the way out of all bad situations, the way of love. Amen. |
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