Just as there are many reasons that one person can pursue a career in a specific field or goes to a favorite grocery store, continues to bite ones nails or walk with a limp when the ailment is no more, there are many reasons why individuals find themselves in poverty. Some are born into it and know no other way, others are forced into it due to the death of a spouse, family illness. Loss of a job, divorce and so on. There is also the aspect of mental illness, there are many hereditary or life created mental illnesses but there are also many forced into poverty due to their mental psyche. Changing the circumstances is a bit harder. Children born into poverty may be fearful of changing their circumstance because they have no idea how to. I feel that educating those in poverty and helping them find a way out is a big step in the right direction. I feel we need to have more community centers as we did years ago. Educate, occupy those minds and teach…teach Gods word so they can find the way to truth and freedom. Our Lord has been very clear that we are to humble ourselves, our hearts and our churches and help those that are needy. There are many scriptures on Gods feelings of poverty throughout the bible. I can’t think of many prophets that did not address poverty and giving in their work. A few of my favorites are Jeremiah 22:3 “This is what the Lord Says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of his oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the alien, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.
Nehemiah 9:15 But when they were oppressed they cried out to you. From Heaven you heard them and in your great compassion you gave them deliverers, who rescued them from the hands of their enemies.
Deuteronomy 15:7-8 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that he Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted towards your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs.

To become impoverished takes but a breath, but to be a helping hand and to lend whatever is needed can change a life! Pay it forward!