Poverty

I read a post today by Kim Potter regarding how to break the spirit of poverty. Immediately my mind went to MONEY.

Then as I started to read the article, God spoke to my heart that poverty isn't always about money.

Webster states that: Poverty is scarcity, dearth, or the state of one who lacks a certain amount of material possessions or money.[1] Absolute poverty or destitution refers to the deprivation of basic human needs, which commonly includes food, water, sanitation, clothing, shelter, health care and education. Relative poverty is defined contextually as economic inequality in the location or society in which people live

United Nations: Fundamentally, poverty is the inability of getting choices and opportunities, a violation of human dignity. It means lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in society. It means not having enough to feed and clothe a family, not having a school or clinic to go to, not having the land on which to grow one’s food or a job to earn one’s living, not having access to credit. It means insecurity, powerlessness and exclusion of individuals, households and communities. It means susceptibility to violence, and it often implies living in marginal or fragile environments, without access to clean water or sanitation.[8]

World Bank: Poverty is pronounced deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic goods and services necessary for survival with dignity. Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education, poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and opportunity to better one’s life. [9]

Copenhagen Declaration: Absolute poverty is a condition characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income but also on access to social services.[10] The term 'absolute poverty' is sometimes synonymously referred to as 'extreme poverty.'[11]

Poverty is usually measured as either absolute or relative (the latter being actually an index of income inequality).

(End of definitons)

Poverty is a lack, not enough of .....

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Could it be that the reason for poverty is simply that we don’t realize our rights in Christ or who we are in Christ?(excerpt from KPotter)

Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.

Yet, at other times it is because we are doing something to allow the enemy access to our lives. You don’t have to allow poverty or lack in your life. (excerpt from KPotter)

Christ took our lack to give us all that we could have need of. He paid the cost for our SUCCESS! 

2Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

1Thessalonians 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Whatever you may lack in your life... Christ paid for it all. This Christmas I pray that you not only celebrate His birth but give honor to Him for the reason He was born. The reason for the season is JESUS and all that HE gave us... even HIS VERY LIFE.

Thank you Jesus!