Why Poverty?

The world’s economic system reels from one failure to another, as the Euro-zone nations, as well as the United Kingdom, the United States and others feverishly work to find the means to fund the crushing financial burden of entitlement programs promised to their citizens. What can be done?

Retirement at an early age, lengthy vacations, extended unemployment benefits, government provided medical care for an aging population and many other government programs inundate the treasuries of nations large and small. Add to this the wasteful spending on seemingly worthless “pork barrel” projects, fraud and corruption, and we see a situation that appears to be hopeless—unless far-reaching, meaningful reforms are carried out with a sense of urgency.

The subject of economic crisis is all the rage as the political season gets revved up in the U.S., and it is no less a topic of heated speeches and scalding criticism in newspapers and on blogs around the world. Everyone has an opinion, yet no one seems to have a workable solution. Finger pointing, name-calling, and playing the “blame game” dominate the discussions.

The system is so flawed, and has gone on for so long, that it will eventually collapse, impacting everyone as it falls.

How did mankind find itself in such a predicament? What is the solution? You will not find the answers in the hallowed halls of the great universities. You will not find the solutions in the vaunted “think tanks” where scholars and experts analyze and evaluate the facts and figures that are so dismal. But there are solutions to our seemingly unsolvable problems.  There is a Way of life that has been largely ignored by most people through the ages. This Way of life, practiced consistently, always brings the prosperity and benefits (called “blessings”) that humanity desires. It sounds radical, yet it is the only thing that makes any sense at all.

Moses wrote, under inspiration, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today…, Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.  Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out” (Deuteronomy 28:1-6). He continued, “And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods... The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand” (vv. 11-12).

This is the formula for peace and prosperity. Sadly, over the centuries, it has largely been ignored. This is one reason why Jesus said, “For you have the poor with you always”(Matthew 26:11). Christ knew that until the Kingdom of God is ushered in, at His return in power and glory, these economic problems will not be solved.

However, each of us individually can begin to do what Christ taught—and over time see these promises fulfilled in our own lives. A scattered few around the world are actually doing so today.

Regrettably, most people will not obey Christ’s words, and very difficult times are coming as a result.  But we still have the promises that God will intervene for his people. For example, Jesus said. “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).

If you want to know more about how you can tap into these blessings, read “A Way of Life,” and enroll in our free Tomorrow’s World Bible Study Course, which you may take online or in print.  God’s Way can change your life for the better, physically and spiritually. It is up to you.