According to the United States Census Bureau for Barren County, 21.8% of our citizens are “in poverty” & 6.9% of our citizens under the age of 65 do not have health insurance! These two numbers mean many in our community who struggling. The people represented by these numbers tend to remain in the poverty cycle. Many times, we say poverty is “self-inflicted.” However, if you have been delivered from financial poverty or have never struggled with this challenge, chances are someone intervened in your life or someone put you on the right path early in life. The church has a responsibility to cheerfully find a way to assist those who are “in poverty.” Benevolence is part of the work God expects from us!
Galatians 2:10 says They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. Remember means to find a way to help, assist, or guide.
Ephesians 4:28 says Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Sometimes someone has fallen into poverty by committing crimes. The church can teach what we are to do when it comes to actions such as stealing. We have an opportunity to point others to God, showing criminals a better way, and modeling the importance of helping ourselves & others.
I Timothy 6:17-19 says Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all the things to enjoy. Let them do good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. We will be rewarded by holding the hand of the poor instead of holding on to everything we have!
We are to assist, not enable those who are struggling with financial poverty. We must realize, we can’t help every- one, but we do not give up on anyone!
