Before this year, I had encountered poverty.
And I had begun to change.
I was hoping this year would teach me much more
And force me to change.
Take it or leave it:
These are my humble reflections after a year
of encountering poverty around the world.
I was thinking about telling you all I have seen this year but to be honest – it just wouldn’t do it justice.
How do you describe seeing kids with bloated bellies from starvation and peeling skin from malnutrition? How do you describe the lives of people who survive by picking things about of a dump?
How would I do justice to what it’s like to look into the eyes of a six year old child infected with HIV? Or the face of a mother who has no idea how she is going to feed her kids that night?
The truth is I can’t do it justice.
But I want you to keep all those images in your mind as you read this. Whatever your mind conjures up as read those words above. Keep those images and faces fresh in your brain, because:
Poverty isn’t an issue.
It’s people.
*Galatic Lottery
I will cite credit for this phrase to the one and only Eli Martorana. The concept has been around but I love the phrase. Here’s basically what it means:
No one in this universe has control over where they are born. Some are born into extreme wealth and others into extreme poverty. But no one gets to choose, it just happens.
Have you ever asked yourself, “Why was I born into the wealthiest country in the world?” Even if someone is well below the U.S. poverty line they are still richer then 90% of the world.
Have you ever stopped to wander why?
Does God only want us to be grateful? Well, sure that’s a start but only the beginning.
30,000 kids died today of starvation and preventable diseases. The simple act of being grateful didn’t help them any. There has to be more of a reason then gratitude.
I’m suggesting that we were born in the U.S. so that we can
make a difference in the lives of hurting people around the world.
Remember, “To who much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48)
*Messy
This is from a journal entry of mine during my last month in Cambodia:
“Why have I become so tightfisted and cheap? If I was back in the States and heard about the chance to help Cambodian widows or former prostitutes I would have jumped at the opportunity. But now they are right in front of my face and I’m being tightfisted? Unbelievable.”
This proves a truth about poverty:
Distant acts of charity will
always be the easiest response.
Helping widows or former trafficked prostitutes became a lot different when they were in my daily life. It’s a lot easier to give to people that will help them for me.
I read this quote earlier today, “We’re all for helping the broken and downtrodden, just not on our ride home after a long day.”
Getting involved in poverty is messy. It’s that simple.
So I encourage you to simply help the broken and hurting around you. I’m sure there are some in your city, neighborhood or maybe even street.
I think giving to Christian organizations or missionaries is great. Heck I couldn’t have done anything this past year without you guys!
But I challenge you to get messy. Get involved with hurting people daily wherever you are at.
Another great quote, “The life Jesus actually calls us to, by contrast, is much messier than buying
a cause driven t-shirt or sending money to a non-profit organization. It’s one that gets down in the muck
of the human experience and lives with the people there. It shares the pain of the widow and orphan,
the oppressed and unlovable.”
Which brings me to my next point………
*Relational
I love the quote (sorry if you have heard me say this before): “It’s not that the rich don’t care for the poor. It’s that they don’t know the poor.”
After a year of traveling and spending time with impoverished people on three seperate continents. I am more convinced then ever of this truth:
Whatever we do must be
based in relationships.
Take Mama Rita for example. I’m sure you have heard me or someone else talk about her before. She is the amazing woman I had the privilege of spending 3 weeks with in Mozambique. Her and the 20 beautiful orphans she takes care of.
My team and I were able to help her and the kids with a number of things they needed.
And here’s the thing. It did not at all feel like I was giving charity. I was helping out a friend. I was helping someone I loved, cherished. Someone that had even refused payment for the food they fed us.
We were in relationship and it made all the difference.
Poverty, human trafficking, homelessness, Aids. You name it.
They must never be issues.
But instead people, faces, friends.
We must base everything in relationship.
*Biblical Relevance
There are so many passages that could be referenced here but I have narrowed it down to a few.
Take time to consider these:
Consider Deuteronomy 15:7-8 (Or check out the year of Jubilee in Leviticus 25)
“If anyone is poor among your people…….do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward them. Rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.”
Or Micah 6:8
“He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy. And to walk humbly with your God.”
I’ll let you read Matthew 25:31-46 on your own. But I will say this: the issue that seperated the people that were going to heaven and the people that weren’t – was what they did or didn’t do for the “least of these.”
Luke 11:41-42
“But now as for what is inside you. Be generous to the poor and everything will be clean for you. (12) Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kind of garden herbs but you neglect justice and love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.”
II Corinthians 8:14
At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality.
Lastly, I Timothy 6:18-19
“Command them (the rich. A.K.A. us) to do good, to be rich in good deeds and to be generous and willing to share. (19) In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Like I said, these are just my humble
observations after wrestling with this the past year.
Take it or leave it.
But please seek Jesus hard on this
And be active while you do it!
