Starvation in America?

On July 8, U.S. budget statistics revealed a slight increase in the official unemployment rate, to 9.2%.  For many of these people and others, the U.S. offers a “food stamp” program designed to provide minimal subsistence.  During the recent recession, participation in this program has soared.  As of April 2011, nearly 45 million, or one in seven Americans (14%) was participating in the food stamp program.

From 2008 to 2010, the annual cost of funding this program almost doubled, from $35 billion to $65 billion.  The administrator of the program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, estimates that only two-thirds of those eligible for food stamps are using the program currently.

The concern now is what might happen to the program if the U.S. bond rating is downgraded.  Many suggest that if this occurs, unemployment will rise and there will be greater demand on the program.    Simultaneously, the funding for the program may be cut in order to help “balance the budget” (The Economist, July 14, 2011).

It is sobering to see so many people dependent on a failing government for their food.  As time goes on and the U.S. government is plagued with greater debt problems and a dollar continuing to decline in value, the situation could become dangerous.

God prophesied long ago that troublous times would come on the Israelite-descended nations because of their rejection of Him and His ways.  “‘I gave you cleanness of teeth in all your cities. And lack of bread in all your places; yet you have not returned to Me,’ says the LORD” (Amos 4:6).  The future is predicted to be difficult if our nations do not return to God.

However, a time of abundance is also predicted for the world, “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it’” (Amos 9:13).  No more hunger!   God speed this wonderful time of peace and abundance that the world cries out for so desperately (Romans 8:19-23).