Rich and Poor Gap Widening

The gap between the rich and the poor is growing larger. Eight billionaire businessmen “have more combined wealth than the poorest 3.6 billion people in the world put together” (Euronews, January 16, 2016). “The Oxfam report added that since 2015 the richest 1 percent has owned more wealth than the rest of the planet. It said that over the next 20 years, 500 people will pass on over $2.1tn to their heirs—a sum larger than the annual GDP of India, a country with 1.3 billion people” (The Guardian, January 15, 2017).

Human solutions aim to “take from the rich and give to the poor”—but income redistribution will not solve the problem. The biblical approach focuses on changing mankind’s character. Scripture reveals that some poverty is due to carelessness and irresponsibility (Proverbs 6:6-11; 21:13; 24:30-34). It also indicates that poverty can result from injustice and oppression of the poor by rich people who harden their heart and ignore those in need. This attitude will ultimately bring God’s wrath and punishment (Isaiah 5:5-7; Amos 4:1-3; 5:11-13). God destroyed ancient Judah, calling it Sodom, and condemning it for relishing in their luxury and sins of “pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door” (Ezekiel 16:49, NLT). Christ came to preach the Gospel to the poor in order to give them hope of a better future (Luke 4:19)—including a future liberation from their poverty! To learn more, read our encouraging article “Lifting the Burden of Poverty.”