According to the scriptures, any man who can not afford descent food and clothing is poor.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.”
“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil:”
“which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:6-10 KJV)
According to the world bank, people living below a poverty line don’t have enough to meet their basic needs. Countries typically define national poverty lines, and we use the lines of a group of the poorest countries to define the international extreme poverty line of $1.90 per day.
We want to discuss some of the causes of poverty.
Bad governance and policies
“When good people run things, everyone is glad, but when the ruler is bad, everyone groans.” (Proverbs 29:2 MSG)
Oppression and spiritual attack
“Yet again the People of Israel went back to doing evil in God’s sight. God put them under the domination of Midian for seven years. Midian overpowered Israel. Because of Midian, the People of Israel made for themselves hideouts in the mountains—caves and forts.“
“When Israel planted its crops, Midian and Amalek, the easterners, would invade them, camp in their fields, and destroy their crops all the way down to Gaza. They left nothing for them to live on, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey.”
“Bringing their cattle and tents, they came in and took over, like an invasion of locusts. And their camels—past counting! They marched in and devastated the country. The People of Israel, reduced to grinding poverty by Midian, cried out to God for help.” (Judges 6:1-6 MSG)
Loving pleasure, wine, and oil
“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.” (Proverbs 21:17 KJV)
Being among riotous eaters of flesh and wine bibbers
“Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thine heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers; Among riotous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: And drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.” (Proverbs 23:19-21 KJV)
Loving sleep
“Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.” (Proverbs 20:13 KJV)
Not heeding instruction
“Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: But he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.” (Proverbs 13:18 KJV)
Hoarding; withholding more than is neccessary
“There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” (Proverbs 11:24 KJV)
I pray that the Lord shall deliver you from lack and poverty in the name of Jesus!
