Poverty – by Irene Saltson
POVERTY
When poverty is mentioned, what quickly comes in mind most often is the lack of material possessions namely food, money, clothing and shelter. There is no doubt that the definition of poverty may include what I have raised above. But hey, there is more to this. What do I mean? Well the point I want to raise here is that one may have in abundance all those listed above and be seriously swimming in poverty. How? Because Poverty goes beyond lack of……Yes, what I mean is should one have all these in abundance and cannot even put them to use, let alone share with the less fortunate, would not the said individual be pitiably poor?
Take for instance in a case of Mr. A or Madam A. He or she lacks food, money, shelter, clothing, and even education. The list can go on and on. The inability of him or her to acquire the stated items for his comfort and thus live moderately and be accepted by society may make society brand him or her as poor. Good? Good.
Now let us look at a second scenario. Mr. B or Madam B has in abundance all the requirements that Mr. A or Madam A lacked. However he or she is unable to use them for his comforts let alone share with society. Would you not equate him or her as also being poor? Or better still suffering in the same way as the people of case A?
From my arguments above, I would like thus to define poverty as the state of having scarce, shortage or being deficient in the basics of humankind necessity or having the basic or in abundant necessities and the inability to use the basic necessity for the growth and comfort of the individual, human race and his or her environment.
Please do not be dismayed with me. Neither should you be confused. Looking at the parable that Jesus told His disciples about the rich man and Lazarus, a case study can be made. Here, Lazarus was described as poor because he lacked the basics of humankind necessity. The rich man was described as such because he had the basics of humankind necessities in life and even more. Despite the fact that he had in abundance he was not able to use it for the growth of society namely by refusing to notice an insignificant person Lazarus. It is in the recognition of the insignificant and acting by sharing with them that one really becomes rich. The rich man according to my definition was spiritually, miserably poor. I believe when we die and face judgment God would not ask you how rich you were whilst you were on earth. Of how many buildings you were able to put up, how many cars you had in your possession, how many clothes or shoes you had. He would rather ask how many poor people lived in your vicinity. And how you effected a change in their lives to be better people in society and to walk with heads raised high.
So you see my dearest brother and sister, God in his own wisdom in creating the world, entrusted everything to humankind. Some were made more knowledgeable and more gifted. Others were made less fortunate. This does not mean God prefers or loves the more fortunate than the less fortunate ones. No. vehemently not! In humankind’s sharing then, the human race will become a picture of what God wants on earth. In that, there would be equality or stability so far as human race acquisition is concerned. Ones inability to share because of greed, pomposity, self aggrandizement and complex make some appear to be like the Rich man, I mean poor. Humankind’s self centredness in life and the ‘I must be all in all’ is what makes poverty become a disease. That is what deprives humanity of being rich, rich in the Lord.
Take heart my sister and brother all is not lost. You and I can make a difference. A difference of caring, sharing, being empathetic, of giving. Should we begin to inculcate praying to God to remove the scales off from our eyes so as to see and be sensitive to the demands of others, and also to straighten our clenched fists, we may make the world a better place for you and for me and the entire universe. Blessed Theresa (Mother Theresa) did her part; Mahatma Gandhi also took a bold step. The early Church likewise contributed their part.
Let us pray to God, to help us ‘shoo’ away with grasping and learn to be generous. We do not need to have in abundance before we share. No matter the state one is in, there must be someone somewhere in a far worse situation. It may not be money, food, clothing etc that you have to give away. Rather, it could be sharing your knowledge, time, smiles, and God given gifts that have been bestowed upon you.
God does really love a cheerful giver. Go, and reach out and touch someone’s heart, and you would have made a great fortune not here on earth but in heaven where neither moth nor humankind can and will erode and steal away the treasure stored for you respectively. Go on; make a move for time waits for no man or woman. Let us ask God to help us give till it hurts. And whilst it lasts, the giving would be reciprocated with nothing but the abundance of grace which in effect will be preparing you and me for heaven.
Let us all aim for heaven with our little, little giving(s) and the heaven doors, I strongly believe, would be opened for us to enter. Till we all meet together in heaven, let us start giving. Amen.
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