No religion just relationship: God's way of eradicating poverty.
Poverty is a result of sin. At the deepest level of poverty is our separation from God. The other forms of poverty (material, physical, financial, etc...) stem from our spiritual poverty, a broken relationship with our Maker. God provided for every need mankind have even before creating man but when Adam and Eve sinned against God the provisions of the garden is no longer available. God created man with a capability to flourish and that is God's plan for each of us (Jeremiah 29:11-12).
Eradication of poverty has been the goal of United Nations and spent billions of dollars in efforts but have yet to make significant progress. Why? Perhaps it is the lack of understanding or deliberate negligence of the relationship between poverty and justice. The ultimate justice is when man is restored with God and sin no longer have power over man (Romans 6:14) because of God's love (John 3:16).
God’s plan for eradicating poverty is quite different and will most likely be dismissed by many as it is perceived to be a religion. Early Christians even the 1st century Christians understood the relationship between poverty and justice. Jesus exemplifies it and taught it, He declared it (Luke 4:18-21). Poverty development and the Gospel have to be working as one, not just side by side in order to eradicate poverty at its root.
Doing good works (development) is great but it is not enough to eradicate poverty. Doing justice (development + gospel) through love and with love will eradicate poverty. Doing justice is as simple as being a Christian witness declaring the gospel by life, deed and word.
Helping others get education, teach livelihood and how to take care of the environment through biblical teaching can pave a way to the eradication of poverty and stop the vicious cycle of poverty in the lives of many poor families. We are called to love God and others to eradicate poverty and to lead others toward an abundant life that we all called to have.
Let us love God first and love others always… no matter how much it can cost us.
Genuine need when a met with a genuine love will always produce genuine faith!
Be a Christian Witness… Do Justice, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly (Micah 6:8).
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