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PLEASE EXPLAIN…
Poverty
Maybe you do not think you need an explanation of poverty. It means poor, right. Other words we might use to define the term would be inpecuniousness, indigence, pauperism, or something with fewer letters; want, needy, or destitute. Pretty self explanatory for the most part, however, most of us have never been what can be defined as poor, or in poverty.
Let me explain. Being in poverty does not just mean not having enough money. Poverty, in the true sense of the word, means much more than that. Poverty has attached to it tentacles like poor or no health care options, poor nutrition, usually under-funded and strapped educational opportunities, housing options that place people in high crime areas, lower or diminished employment opportunities, and dependency upon government and faith-based organizations for assistance. Couple that with the fact that people in poverty battle prejudice, depression, low self-esteem, unrealistic or negative thought and behavioral patterns, and a host of other barriers, you can begin to see how poverty becomes an ominous mountain to those who live in it daily.
I am not arguing that poverty and all that is associated with it is not the poor person’s responsibility on some level. Everyone must take some level of responsibility for themselves and make the most out of what God has given them, emotionally, materially, physically, and so forth. However, we cannot put everyone who suffers in poverty into one box and then place a negative label on the whole box. We must look at people and situations as individual and realize that behind every thing we see is a lot we do not see nor understand. “Judge not lest you be judged” are good words from God’s Word to remind us “that there but for the grace of God go I”.
Poverty is something you can do something about and money may not necessarily be the answer. It may be teaching life skills, helping people obtain jobs and job skills, lobbying for better housing, fighting to reduce crime, electing officials to better schools and neighborhoods, volunteering in churches and agencies that address vital everyday needs, improving physical and mental health opportunities, and numerous other ways to make a difference in the life or lives of those suffering in poverty.
How can you make a difference?
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