Escape From Poverty.

Title: Escape From Poverty.

Escape From Poverty_28032021

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Poverty is the noun of the word used to describe the financial state of an individual, group, country, etc. The one that is in the state of poverty is described as being poor. Although the word “poverty” is sometimes used in relation to other areas of life, several definitions tend to view Poverty mainly from the perspective of being extremely poor. To be poor is to lack sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society.

Being poor can also be relative, even when the point that is being considered is the financial state. This is because prevailing economic conditions differ from one environment to the other. Possession of a specific amount of money may class an individual as rich in one society but poor in another society. It is always going to be about the economic standard of the society in reference.

Although it is possible to be considered rich at all times irrespective of the society such a person finds him/her self, there may not be a guarantee that one will always be rich throughout life time. Cases abound of people who are poor at a younger age and successfully escape poverty as they progress in life and vice-versa. Some experience the phase of poverty in between two phases of wealth whilst some have period of wealth sandwiched between two life phases of poverty. Which ever is the situation, what is not in contention is the desire of all human beings, Christians and non-Christians alike, to avoid poverty as much as they can. This is because the state of poverty is one that gives the impression that life is not worth living.

To be poor as mentioned earlier is to lack financial ability to meet basic needs that is necessary for normal living in any society. There is no other way to avoid this than to have money. The Bible even says that money answereth all things even though it equally warns all that the love for money is the foundation of all evil that is found in the world today – Eccl. 10:19; 1Tim. 6:10. As much as it may be desirable to avoid poverty by possessing money, it is equally important for people to be careful about what they do to have the money. It is never going to be acceptable to the Lord and even men, if anyone with the belief that the end justifies the means, decides to escape poverty through illegal or more importantly, immoral routes. Of course it becomes immoral when the acquisition of the money is at the expense of the peace and comfort of others or inflicts harm and pain on fellow human beings or contradicts the laws of the Almighty God.

Nevertheless, it is important for the Christian in particular and all human beings in general to do everything legal and moral to avoid poverty because the one who is poor will hardly have a personality. Such may find it difficult to be positively recognised in the society. The opinion of such is hardly taken seriously and such will always live a life of sadness as basic comfort of life are out of reach. One may not be financially wealthy, which is the state of having money in excess or abundance and more than immediate needs, but escaping poverty will equate to being in the state that the wise writer of the book of Proverbs sought from the Lord – Prov. 30:8b-9. He had pleaded with God not to make him wealthy so as to avoid him forgetting the Lord but at the same time not leave him poor so that he does not have to steal and disgrace Him.

The use of the word “escape” in today’s teaching is because the natural state of man is the state that encourages poverty. To avoid poverty will require that human beings go out of the normal and do the unusual. One of the desires of human beings is to enjoy life, but like the wise king advised, it has to be in one’s work – Eccl. 2:24; 3:22. Enjoyment involves being able to afford things that make one happy and merry, and that will mean spending money. To legally have money to spend or to legally continue to have money to spend will however be possible only if one is willing to work. Truth however is that working is not always desirable as it exposes man to some level discomfort, a state that every human being will want to avoid if possible. The Bible says poverty creeps into the life of the one who loves a little bit of sleep, slumber and idleness – Prov. 6:10-11; 24:33. It therefore becomes obvious that the one that wants to escape poverty must be willing to work.

But very obvious in the society today is the hardworking nature of many people who are not just poor but are extremely poor. It then makes it obvious that as much as it is true that the one that is not working is destined for poverty, working does not always guarantee escape from poverty. This however is not strange to the Bible student who should be aware that it is the Lord that provides the ability to avoid poverty by giving ability to make wealth. He it is that prospers without stress – Deut. 8:18; Prov. 10:22. What a great revelation but how is that going to be possible? Is it the case that he will rain down manna from heaven? Definitely not because on the occasion when he provided manna from heaven, the manna ceased immediately they stepped into the land where they had the opportunity to work for what they will eat – Josh. 5:12. The lord may provide financial succor for his people but it remains just that as the child of God that desires to escape poverty must seek to have a land to farm on and prepare to work hard on the land. The land will be any vocation that will yield income. There will be nothing to harvest if such does not have a land, more so farm it in expectation of a harvest. The one who has nothing to harvest cannot escape poverty. So it becomes obvious that the Christian will only be able to escape poverty by simply working hard on a path that God has designed for him/her as that is when the Almighty God will be willing to bless such works. Working hard on a path that is not divinely designed may bring income but may not be sufficient for such an individual to escape poverty just as living outside the instructions of the Lord can even make the one that is wealthy walk into poverty unknowingly.

The Christian must aspire to work as there is no other way to escape the poverty that is presently plaguing Christendom than this. But the work to be done must be as revealed by the Almighty God. Not seeking direction from Him may not stop a huge income from coming in, but it will definitely not aid the individual to avoid poverty. Poverty is not the result of lack of income alone but also about avoiding unnecessary expenditures. For as long as the expenditure is bigger than the income, poverty will always be close by. In promising wealth, the Lord does not only bless the work of the hands of his people and open the gates of heaven to pour down blessings but also promised to rebuke the devourer that will introduce unnecessary expenditures – Deut. 28:12; Mal. 3:10-18. He has both sides covered to ensure that His children never experience poverty.

Do all you can within the knowledge provided in the scripture to escape poverty so that you can avoid the frustration that accompanies such a life. It is definitely not the plan of God for you. Prayer should be made to Him, only to seek direction on the right path that he has designed for your life so that you will be able to plant on your own ground, know what to plant and know how to utilise the harvest. Success in this will no doubt help you to escape poverty. May God help us to chase poverty away from our lives in Jesus name. Amen.