recently i was re-reading a portion of a book that has sat on my shelf for a few years. in it the author takes the reader on a journey through his development of faith and his journey from privileged life which included religion to a life of passionate faith among the poor. the author shares about his time among some of the world’s most poverty-stricken people, among those who were deemed untouchable by society due to their medical diagnoses.
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as i read, the thing that struck me very deeply is the reality of poverty. and not only the poverty of those in another country who go days without food, months without adequate clothing, and years without shelter from the elements. that poverty is very real, and it is absolutely tragic. and we must do what we can to help heal those injuries and injustices.
but poverty is so much broader than that picture. yet most of us never realize the poverty of our own lives.
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just as devastating as material poverty are the poverties of:
. loneliness
. . addiction
. . . betrayal
. . . . deceit
. . . . . abuse
. . . . . . ignorance
. . . . . . . self-reliance
. . . . . . . . unrealistic expectations
. . . . . . . . . entrenched sinful behavior
…and the list never ends.
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poverty doesn’t pick favorites.
there is no race, religion, occupation, or family immune to the tragedy of poverty. there is only an almighty God whose love is unfailing and whose children must be channels of his riches and blessing, releasing those who are imprisoned by poverty.
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what is your poverty?
how can the richness of God fill completely, and heal your life of that poverty?
