God’s Solution to Poverty is His Word
God has heard the prayers of those who are poor in our society today. His solution to their poverty is obedience to His word as written in the Bible. If you have financial challenges today, you should look to God for the way out. In this post, we show you God’s modus operandi for moving the poor from rags to riches. (December 2021)
Texts – please read the Bible passages (below the post) as you read the post.
Key Points
- Poverty is defined as living without the necessities of life – food, clothing, or housing. In developed countries like the United States, this means living on an income that is less than $36 per day for individuals and $72 per day for a family of four. In developing countries, the World Bank defines extreme poverty as living on less than $1.90 per day for an individual.
- There are several causes of poverty. The main causes that have been outlined in various literature include: (i) inequality and marginalization – race, gender, etc. (ii) conflicts and violence – war, crime, etc. (iii) poor healthcare systems (iv) little access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (v) climate change (vi) lack of education (vii) poor public works and infrastructure – isolation limits opportunity (viii) lack of government support/ ineffective governance (ix) lack of jobs or livelihoods (x) lack of property, access to credit or savings (sources: Reliefweb; Federalsafetynet.com).
- In addition to the causes of poverty stated above the Bible identifies some other causes: (i) Laziness – a lazy individual that will not work will certainly become poor – Proverbs 20:13 (ii) Drunkenness and Gluttony – Proverbs 23:20-21 (iii) Evil association – being influenced by persons with an exaggerated view of themselves – Proverbs 28:19.
- From these first two points, we see that poverty emanates from the activities or inactivity of government, society, and the individual who is poor. For this reason, poverty is often a very complex problem to resolve. It is akin to a prison with an armed guard posted outside your cell to prevent your escape (Proverbs 24;34). Furthermore, those who are poor and helpless are sometimes oppressed by those who are well-off, in their drive to ensure the status quo remains in their favour (Psalm 12:1-5; Psalm 144:11-15).
- Generous external help to the poor is therefore often required to eliminate poverty. A review of Psalm 12:5-6 and Psalm 68:5-11 reveal that God’s antidote to poverty is His words as stated in the scriptures (the Bible). No matter how bad the poverty situation might be, and the depth of compromise by both government and society to keep it so, the poor can be delivered from poverty by diligence to comply with God’s words.
- The modus operandi of God to take the poor from rags to riches typically entail a process of seven (7) steps as revealed in the account of the life of a widow called Ruth, her mother-in-law Naomi, and Boaz, the wealthy man who later became Ruth’s husband. These are:
- Set in a God-Governed Family (Psalm 68:5-6; Ruth 2:1-3) – the first thing God does for a poor individual is to put him/her in a family. This is similar to what happens when a new baby is born into the world. A child is born naked with no possession to his/her name. But what the child has is the family he/she is born into. The family assumes responsibility to care for the child up to when he/she becomes an adult and can work to fend for his/her needs. In a similar way, God sets up families headed by His representative who acts as a father to the poor in society. Bible believing churches and ministries are a prime example of such families. This representative is typically a man or woman who has a strong relationship with God, and a mandate from Him to care for the poor. He/She does this by setting up funds to care for the poor at a time when they are not yet able to fend for themselves. In Acts 4:32-35, the leadership of the early church set up funds to care for the poor. This was the also role of David in 1 Samuel 22:1-2, and the role of Paul in Acts 16:9-10 + 2 Corinthians 8:1-2. It was also the role of Moses when he led the Israelites out of Egypt to Canaan. The role of the family is to care for the poor at the time when they cannot help themselves. They also train up the poor individual in the nurture and admonition of God. Ruth was set into Boaz’s family when she gleaned in the field of Boaz (her husband’s family relative) by divine happenstance (Ruth 2:1-3). If you are poor today, you need to locate such organisation(s) who function in the world as God’s representatives. Become a part of the family he/she has set up under God and obey the guidance given to you.
- Work for Necessities (Ruth 2:6-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10) – This is the second stage in God’s process of taking the poor out of poverty. In this stage, the provision of food, clothing and shelter becomes the responsibility of the poor individual. The poor individual must learn to work to cover his/her basic needs. He/she can start with volunteering their expertise and skills if no one will employ them. Work is a must. In the natural world, families send their children to school at the early age of two (2) years. The child starts learning to work with his/her hands and brains to provide for necessities later in life. The poor individual must go through this process as well. Laziness is not acceptable. In 2 Thess. 3:6-10, Paul taught the Macedonian poor the discipline of work to provide for necessities. Likewise, David and his men volunteered their services as security guards to sheep breeders in the forest (1 Samuel 25:14-16).
- Training in God’s Word (Psalm 68: 8-9; Ruth 2:8-12) – in this stage God’s representative takes on the responsibility of teaching God’s word to the poor. And the poor individual takes on the responsibility of learning and obedience. Within the context of this conversation, we mean God’s word as regards finances, business and economic prosperity. The poor learns to give tithes, first fruit and offerings to God as a mark of honour for His provision. The poor also learns to trust God, while understanding His Economic System. Psalm 68:8-10 refers to God’s word as rain. Paul taught the Macedonian poor the word of God as regards giving and receiving – another name for God’s Economic System. Boaz gave instructions to Ruth, and she obeyed (Ruth 2:8-9,12). Being soldiers by profession, David taught his men that God’s opinion must be sought prior to engaging in a battle (1 Samuel 23:1-5). Moses received the Law (God’s word) from God for the Israelite nation while on their journey in the wilderness. Please click on the ‘Training’ tab on this website for courses you can take on this subject.
- Rich in Faith (Psalm 68: 10; Ruth 2:12-13) – this is the first type of riches God gives to the poor. As the poor individual receives the word of God, faith is released in his/her heart. Faith in God and His Word is a type of riches the world does not reckon with. Many who are rich today do not see the need for it. However, it is extremely important for the poor. In James 2:5, the Bible says God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith. Faith is a prerequisite to walk with God and access His resources. God rejected the generation of Israelites that came out from Egypt because He did not find faith in their hearts (Hebrews 4:2). You cannot inherit God’s promises for financial prosperity without faith.
- Rich in Liberality Towards God (Psalm 68: 10; Ruth 2:14, 17-18) – this is the second type of riches God gives to the poor. The poor individual must cultivate a heart that is rich towards God. By this we mean the poor must financially support God’s initiatives in the world. These initiatives include giving towards the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ, giving to the poor and vulnerable in society, and any other thing God has asked to be done. Ruth always kept back some lunch which she took back home to Naomi her mother in-law. We also see an example of this in 2 Corinthians 8 with Paul and the Macedonian poor. Paul started a fund collection for the poor people in the Jerusalem church. The Macedonian poor gave towards this cause, despite their poverty. A second example is Moses and the Israelites making their way through the wilderness to the promised land. God commanded that they give towards the construction of a tabernacle. They gave gold, silver, bronze, textile, etc. Giving to God’s work/initiatives is the primary way God blesses our finances. Being liberal towards God gives the poor individual access to heaven’s resources, and sets him/her up for an encounter with God’s wisdom.
- Creative Wisdom for Enterprise (Psalm 68: 11; Ruth 3:1-4) – this is the stage in which the progress of the poor individual towards wealth becomes evident to the world. In this stage God gives wisdom for enterprise to the poor individual, with capital richly supplied from God’s hidden resource base in the earth. This wisdom from God may be given directly to the poor individual or to God’s representative in whose family the poor individual belongs, for onward passage to the poor. This can be a business idea that the poor can deploy to create wealth over time (Elisha and the widow in 2 Kings 4), or a skill that is in great demand at that particular time (Joseph and Daniel’s skills to interpret dreams). The capital for the enterprise is supplied from God’s hidden resources in the world. God does have hidden resources that we know nothing about. These are the resources Jesus Christ gave up for the poor as written in 2 Corinthians 8:9. Paul referred to them in Philippians 4:19 as the riches of God’s glory. These resources are hidden within the global economy today. However, it takes the proceeding word of God from the Holy Spirit to unlock them (wisdom). As Ruth continued to be liberal to Naomi, she was given wisdom to become the wife of the richest dude in town (Boaz). Also, when the Israelites thirsted for water, Moses received wisdom to speak to a rock nearby and sufficient water came out from the rock to feed millions of people. Who knew there was water hidden in the rock!
- Mighty to Provide Economic Leadership (Psalm 68: 12-14; Ruth 4:11-12) – this is the last stage in the promotion of the poor by God. As they do their businesses/jobs given to them by God, and operate in the economy based on God’s rules, they become dominant market players over time. They will become dominant as to be in a position to dictate industry trends/value systems and help others who are poor, thus providing economic leadership. By economic leadership, we mean ensuring there is no poor person within your area of influence. The poor dudes that gathered themselves to David later became mighty men. One of them killed a lion in the snow, another killed 800 men in one battle until the sword clung to his hand – they had fighting capacities their enemies could not boast about. Similarly, the Israelites invaded Canaan, taking out kings and their armies and dispossessing them of their lands and wealth. God will give the global economy to the poor who learn to do things His way. He will make them mighty men in it.
- Based on the seven (7) step process described above, we see that God’s first action is to reestablish a new government and society to serve as pillars of support for the poor individual. God becomes the new government, and His representative/family becomes the new society for the poor. In this way, God corrects the negative impact of government and societal failures on the poor. He follows this up by correcting the self-imposed failures of the poor individual (namely laziness) – He teaches him/her the discipline of work to provide the necessities of life. Thereafter, He teaches the poor individual how to relate with God as regards finances – this is the poor learning to operate in God’s economic system even while here on earth. If the poor individual is obedient and patient, he/she will become a mighty individual of wealth and prominence, with great and positive impact on society.
- God’s answer to the prayers of the poor is to give them access to an alternative economy and economic system. By this we refer to what we have termed the Perfect Economy and God’s Economic System. When a poor individual chooses the Perfect Economy and operates God’s Economic System, he/she is granted access to heaven’s resources. These resources are real and available to those who study and comply with God’s words.
- To understand what we have termed the Perfect Economy and God’s Economic System, please visit adullamsolutions.com. They are courses we have developed on this website to instruct you based on God’s word. We enjoin you to take time out and study them. You will be delivered from poverty.
- In 1 Samuel 22:1-2 we see the story of David and 400 men in their poverty. David had recently become a victim of government-sponsored injustice and violence. The 400 men had lost out in society – they were in distress, in debt and discontented. They all gathered to live in a cave called Adullam. David soon became their leader. Their guiding compass became God’s word and His will for them (1 Samuel 22:5, 1 Samuel 23:1-5). In about two decades after this, David became the President of Israel and the 400 men were called the mighty men of David. They became the crème de la crème of the Israelite society.
- The passage of scripture in 2 Corinthians 8:9 tells us that one of the reasons Jesus died is so that those who are poor can become rich. You can give yourself a helping hand out of poverty by obeying and walking in line with God’s words as regards finances.
The mercy and grace of God be with us all. Amen.
Texts – please read the Bible passages (below the post) as you read the post.
Proverbs 20:13 – Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare. (NIV)
Proverbs 23:20-21 – Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. (NIV)
Proverbs 28:19 – Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty. (NIV)
Psalm 12:1-5 – Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue – those who say, “by our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us – who is lord over us?”
“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” (NIV)
Psalm 144:11-15 – Deliver me; rescue me from the hands of foreigners whose mouths are full of lies, whose right hands are deceitful. Then our sons in their youth will be like well-nurtured plants, and our daughters will be like pillars carved to adorn a palace. Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. (NIV)
Psalm 12:5-6 – “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. (NIV)
Psalm 68:5-11 – A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. When you, God, went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance. Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor. The Lord announces the word, and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng: …(NIV)
Acts 4:32-35 – All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. (NLT)
1 Samuel 22:1-2 – David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him. (NIV)
1 Samuel 22:5 – But the prophet Gad said to David, “do not stay in the stronghold. Go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth (NIV)
1 Samuel 23:1-5 – When David was told, “Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,” he inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” The Lord answered him, “Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.”
But David’s men said to him, “Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!” Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, “Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.” So David and his men went to Keilah, fought the Philistines and carried off their livestock. He inflicted heavy losses on the Philistines and saved the people of Keilah. (NIV)
2 Corinthian 8:9 – For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. (NIV)