How? Ending Poverty

Weekly Devotion – January 15, 2012 – How? Ending Poverty

Theme/Title:    The Simple Fix – Eliminate Poverty 

Scripture:      Psalm 10; Isaiah 58: 6-8 and Luke 1: 46-55

Media:    YouTube video “Sermon @ the 51st Annual Prayer Breakfast” by WildxFlower,

Reflection:

So now we get to the final area that the church can really have an impact on, poverty.  We have been working at this for centuries. In fact, the very first churches struggled with how to feed the widows and poor and Paul even took up a collection among the Gentile churches for this need in Jerusalem.

The United Methodist Church has programs to feed the hungry in countries all over the world.  We have programs to teach farming techniques, sustainable practices, irrigation programs, animal husbandry; we offer programs in food storage and preparation.  We also do things to address poverty like micro loans and house businesses.  We try to take donated funds and spend them in country to help with local economies.  We are providing health care, vaccines and nets to fight malaria.  We really are invested in addressing poverty as a denomination.

As a local church we collect food and household items for FISH.  We collect money and food stuff for Neighborhood House’s Emergency Food Box Program.  We drive Meals on Wheels and serve Loaves and Fishes.  We volunteer at the Oregon Food Bank and on Habitat builds.  We support the SW Health Clinic and many of our people volunteer there.  We really do a lot to address poverty.

But still it is a problem.  The 2010 US Census found that more people than ever are poor in this country.  Famine is raging over parts of Africa.  Floods have wiped out crops in Pakistan and the poor are bearing the brunt of the loss.  The statistics prove the adage that the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer and those of us in between are getting to be a smaller and smaller number.  But hope is not lost.  People still give.  People still care.  And with celebrities like Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Bono and billionaires like Bill and Malinda Gates and Warren Buffet stepping up there is some traction being gained.  But until the richest nations invest substantial dollars, time and resources into addressing the root cause of poverty the problem will persist. 

And for people of faith who are boldly shaping partners of God for the transformation of the world we must see addressing poverty and its root causes as a spiritual matter and not just a political or humanitarian one.  Poverty is a symptom of spiritual anemia as John Wesley knew and pointed out.  His challenge to faithful people is famous: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, as long as ever you can.”  What more needs to be said?

Meditation:

Remember a time you helped address poverty by helping with a program or project.  Call to mind a time when you found yourself judging someone less fortunate for their choices.  Identify something you feel passionate about that will address poverty and its root causes.

Prayer:           

Pray for the poor and those who work tirelessly to help the poor and address poverty’s root causes.  Offer thanksgiving for people of wealth, fame and status who give and work to make poverty history.  Pray for strength and wisdom to invest yourself in the fight to end poverty.  Ask God to help you live simply so that other can simply live.