Responding To Poverty

Christians are called to respond to the poor with compassion and generosity.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
This then is how we know that we belong." (1 John 3:16-18 NIV).

"Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1Ti 6:18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.
1Ti 6:19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Poverty is one of the great evils of this day and age. It is the absence of the well-being God intends for humankind. The Bible provides an image of the world as God intends it to be - communities of people engaged in a loving, worshipful relationship with God, enjoyingthe fruits of an abundant earth and the deep bonds of love with one another. Poverty exists wherever this vision doesn't.

Therefore, I truly believe in a holistic approach to make poverty history (something I first learned through the subject Holistic Ministry, when I was at Bible College) - including relief (meet the immediate material and physical needs of the poor), development (address the underlying causes of poverty), emotional, mental, and spiritual growth etc.