The Poor

Matthew 26:11  For you have the poor with you always, but Me you do not have always.

“Poverty” is a line. “Poor” is a condition.

The government establishes a line of income for home units that declares those making less than their number to be living in poverty.  Most often, living in poverty means living with less – often much less.  But not all who are in poverty are poor and not all the poor are in poverty.  There are some under the poverty line who are rich and there are some above the poverty line who are poor.  Here is some explanation:

Not all under the poverty line are necessarily poor.  Those deemed living in poverty can have nice things, be content, and live a blessed life.  They can live in victory and worth.  That is, a person in poverty can budget, pay the bills, give to their church, and provide food and shelter.  They may not live in a nice neighborhood, drive a newer car, take vacations or eat out often, have a smart phone, or eat a lot of meat yet, they can be great parents, raising great children, and living a fulfilling life all-the-while living in “poverty.”

Then there are the poor who indeed might be destitute and in need of special help.  But not all those who are poor are destitute because being poor can be a mindset rather than a condition of lack.  A poor person often sees themselves as lacking and covets what others have.  A poor person often gets a dollar and readily spends it often on non-essential things such as a smart phone, lottery tickets, or new shoes.

Those poor may actually have an income over the poverty line.  They can drive a new car, have the latest technology, and dress trendy – and do so using debt, not giving to church, and troubled by late notices, but they are poor because of their mindset.  There are some who make a good wage but their mindset is one of greed, discontentment, and envy and thus they see themselves and declare themselves “poor”.

Poor can be a way of life that doesn’t see the big picture nor the long picture.  Furthermore, the poor mind can be tangled up in victimhood and anger.  The poor mind often thinks that they “deserve” what everyone else has.  They think they deserve a full pantry, a newer car, a smart phone, a trendy wardrobe, a granite countertop with stainless steel appliances, and money to eat out often.  They deserve it because others have it.  It is the philosophy of socialism – all deserve all the modern pieces because they live in the country.  It is the philosophy being embraced by our citizens – especially those younger.

The poor mindset believes that someone “owes” them.  They should make top money, have weeks of annual vacation, get a good health insurance plan, and a 401 program just like the boss.  The poor mindset thinks that because they show up close to start time, work most of the hours they are present, and work most days that they are worthy of all the things that any other employee gets.

The poor mindset sees others move up in lifestyle and long for the same, but can’t find the drive to take the steps to get to where others are.  Rather, they look for the government to either hand them a better life or believe the government should take from those progressing and distribute it to those with less.  It is called socialism.

Again, those under the poverty line don’t always have the mindset of being poor for they can live free of coveting, bitterness/anger, have a sound work ethic, and not be suggesting that they deserve what others have or that things are owed them.

The duty to the poor for Christians is not to support their complaints and demands, but help them develop a new life vision, see the steps out, encourage them to take those steps, and possibly offer to walk with them out of their brokenness realizing that their new life might still leave them living under the poverty line.