The Situation
Poverty is of course not restricted to Africa - there is poverty in our own countries. Nor is all of Africa poor. But the extreme difference between different parts of the world is startling. The figures are well-known by now:
* One half of the world's people (3 billion) live in 'poverty' (on less than $2/ day). 1.3 billion people live in 'absolute poverty' (on less than $1/ day).
* 800 million people lack access to basic healthcare. Over 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. 30% of children in sub-Saharan Africa are malnourished.
* Each year, 1 million die from malaria, 2 million from TB, 3 million from diarrhoea. 36 million adults live with AIDS. A child dies every three seconds from preventable, poverty-related causes, mostly in Africa.

The problem is not that there is not enough food in the world to feed everyone, but that half the world is struggling to survive while some of us are consuming and wasting vast amounts. You can actually check out where you stand in the world's league of wealthiest people at the Global Rich List.

The Bible seems to recognise three kinds of poor. The first is the destitute poor, who are those who don't have the basic necessities of life. The second is the powerless poor, the oppressed and victims of injustice. The third, seeming to flow from the first two, is the humble poor, who recognise their need and are cast upon God.

Attitudes to the poor
Biblically, there is recognition that poverty can be a result of the individual's own bad choices or lifestyle (eg laziness, greed) or even a judgement for disobedience. But most commonly in the Bible, the poor are seen primarily as victims of injustice or circumstances beyond their own power. "A poor man's field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away." (Prov 13:23) They are to be helped, not blamed. Poverty is an evil to be abolished. God himself is concerned for the poor, and about the social injustices which oppress the poor and weak. His response is to provide for the destitute, fight the cause of the oppressed, and honour the humble (Ps 109:31, 113:5-9 140:12, Lk 1:51-52). He calls us to have the same compassion and commitment.

So, firstly, we should ask whether we tend to see the poor as to blame for their poverty, or as victims in need of help, justice, and honour.

Secondly, we need to examine our own hearts to see whether we are genuinely concerned. A defining characteristic of those considered by God to be righteous is a concern for justice for the poor (Prov 29:7). Indeed, God seems to take our attitude to the poor personally - as if our kindness or contempt towards the poor is also towards him (Prov17:5, 19:17). This is a position that Jesus also seems to adopt for himself (Lk 12:33, Matt 25:35-40).

We must not close our hearts to the poor. "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered" (Prov 21:13). The Lord said that the sin of the people of Sodom which brought judgement upon them was that they were "arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy" (Ezek 16:49). Sound familiar...?

Biblical responses

1. Personal Response
A right attitude of honour, concern and compassion for the poor will lead firstly to a personal response of generosity, hospitality, and service (Job 31:16-22, Prov 31:20, Matt 25:31-45, 1Tim 6:18 etc). It will lead us to an eagerness to give up not only our money, but also our time, energy, and comfort. The attachment to our own prosperity, comfort and prestige are often the obstacles to following God - an obedience shaped by the cross of self-denial, suffering, and service (Matt 16:24-25).

We also need to be careful to be righteous and just in the way we pursue business and our own interests (Ps 112:5, Mic 6:8, Ja 5:1-6). By seeking the cheapest deal for ourselves, we are often pushing the producer into poverty. Buying and supporting Fair Trade is one expression of Christian concern for justice. There is a cost to living righteously, but there is always blessing with it (Ps 112:5-9, Prov 11:24-28, 22:9)

The promised kingdom of God, ruled over by the coming Messiah was of course to be a kingdom of justice and peace (Is 11;1-5). The Good News of the kingdom of God, preached to the poor is not just of forgiveness of sins, but that there is God's help, justice, and honour for the poor. The church, as an outpost of the kingdom of God on earth should be demonstrating this nature of the kingdom of God.

2. Structural Response
But God's concern for the poor also called for it to be built into the social and economic structure of the nation. Tithes were partially for the support of the poor (Deut 15:7ff). Loans to the needy were to be interest-free (Ex 22:25 - very relevent to issues of African debt, which became unpayable specifically because of the interest. Prov 28:8!). Wages were to be paid promptly. The edges of the fields were to be left unharvested and left for the poor. There were years when a tenth of the harvest was given to the poor, when fields were left unworked for the poor to access, and when debts were cancelled and fields returned. Limits were laid on the unrestrained pursuit of prosperity, in order to protect the vulnerable.

In legal structures, the Law laid emphasis on the need for justice for the poor and powerless (Ex 23:6-8, Lev 19:15, Deut 24:17, 27:19, 15:15). And politically, part of the role of a righteous leader was to defend the cause of the weak and fatherless, and "maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed" (Ps 82:1-3, Prov 31:8-9, Prov 22:22ff, 29:7,14).

3. Prophetic Response
The prophets passionately called God's people and leaders to account for all injustice, especially oppression of the poor (Is 10:1-2; Jer 22:13-17; Amos 2:6-7; 5:11-15, 21-24; 8:4-6; Zec 7:8-10). We in our turn should be calling upon our governments for structures and decisions that uphold justice for the poor and oppressed, based upon a biblical concern and attitude. We should be challenging a system that puts property and prosperity above people.
"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Prov 31:8-9)

(I have drawn a lot from John Stott and his excellent book: "Issues facing Christians today" for the material above.)

You can find a number of Bible verses about caring for the poor here.

Other articles in this series on:
1. Biblical attitude to the poor
2. Corruption
3. Aid and Development
4. Debt
5. Trade.

Tags: g8 poverty make poverty history africa