Poverty is Relative

By: K. B. Napier

In 1994 a great debate arose in the United Kingdom, because of remarks made about beggars by the Prime Minister, John Major.  He was referring to beggars who were aggressive and even violent when they wanted money, but the response from the people was polarised - some believed that the poor were being victimised and others thought the Prime Minister was correct to condemn aggressive beggars.

As Christians, we are not to take our views from popular opinion, political statement, the pleas of charities, or even the apparently theological arguments of Christian organisations.  We are to take our views only from God's word.

Much nonsense is spoken by well-meaning Christian organisations who 'help the poor' and who suggest that we ought to help all poor people at all times.  This, though, does not agree with scripture.  God tells us a lot about the poor, so we will confine ourselves to sample portions.

Biblical Precepts

We are told that we are not to honour or glorify a man simply because he is poor (Ex.23:3) - that would be like bestowing (superficial and emotive) goodness upon a man simply because he has just died, or because he has grown old, even though his entire life has been one of sin and debauchery. Charities tend to almost deify all poor, regardless of their lifestyles and beliefs.  Christ Himself tells us there is virtue neither in being rich or in being poor - they are just two different states of existence. What really matters is the spiritual state of the rich and the poor.

If a poor man is given a loan, the richer person making the loan should not expect any kind of interest on the loan, nor should he exact a penalty if the loan is not repaid through continuing poverty (Ex. 22:25-27).

Using terms known to the Jews, we are not to harvest all the grapes in the vineyard, nor are we to harvest all the wheat from the field.  We must leave a portion so that the poor may share the crops (Lev. 19:10 and 23:22).  The same applies to us today, in the West...those who have most should give a portion to those who have least and not just accumulate wealth for themselves.

Scripture tells us that a man who has wealth has it because God has given it to him and not because he has gained it by his own intelligent use of money (1 Samuel 2:7).  Yet, I hear many rich men (including Christians) boast of their marvellous mastery over money matters.  The same men despise the poor and claim that they are poor because it is 'their own fault'.  There are many, many men in the world who have worked hard all their lives, but never gain money (or the status that goes with it).  It has nothing to do with their intelligence, or their willpower, or their use of cash.

Christians who are blessed with a cash abundance (and those with businesses) must not take a man's cash level or work status into account when dealing with him, for God says we are all equal in His eyes.  But, sadly, wealth always takes precedence over the poor - as in the case of the poor wise man who saved a whole city (Ecc. 9:15,16): after the people were saved, they completely forgot the poor man.  If he had been rich, they would have erected a statue!

Today, countless Christians are forced - usually by unemployment or sickness - to sell their goods.  Some have to sell their homes.  Scripture tells us to look after these folk.  Their families should even restore their property to them (Lev. 25:25)!  They must be helped out if they become poor (Lev. 25:35).  How I laugh grimly at the prospect of modern Christians, including relations and friends, helping other Believers to this extent!  A loaf of bread is fine...but to restore a home to a poor brother?  From experience, I know that even families turn a blind eye to the growing poverty of their own kin. This flies in the face of Deut. 15:7: if we meet a "a poor man of thy brethren...(who is begging, i.e. in dire straits)...thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand."

Giving to the Brethren

The term 'brethren' is always either explicitly stated or implied.  It refers firstly to those in our own families and secondly to those of the same nation.  In modern language, it means we are to look after our families first and then those who are fellow Believers.  There can be no justification in the practice of giving to charity, when the cash is then used to feed or help the poor in the Third World, or even in our own country, regardless of whether they are Believers or not.  Indeed, it is often the case that one's cash aid is being given to heathen, occultists, drug addicts and drunkards!  There can never be a case for indiscriminate giving.

The command in Deut. 15:11 (and which is repeated by Christ) applies to us today.  It says that the poor will always be with us and we must be careful to help them.  Again, the reference is to the family and the brethren.  There is never an excuse to ignore the plight of one's own family or of the brethren.  That we refer almost exclusively to the family and to brethren is found in such texts as Psalm 34:6, where God says He will help the poor who call to Him.   As God does not listen to the pleas and prayers of the unsaved, whether or not they are poor, this can only apply to the righteous, who (along with orphans - widows are also mentioned in other texts) we are to defend to the uttermost (Psalm 82:3).

Even the Lord recognises and tells us the unfortunate fact of life, that the poor are hated and the rich are 'wined and dined' (Prov.14:20).  It is also true that the rich ride roughly over others, because they have power and status; they 'speak their mind' (i.e. they are rude and ignorant!) and can be generally obnoxious; whereas the poor use more controlled language and a more humble approach (Prov. 18:23).  Of course, a few rich folk are righteous in their ways, but even these tend to misuse their power and status, sometimes without realising it.

Those who give to the poor will be repaid abundantly by God (Prov. 19:17), but those who pretend they do not know a member of the family or the brethren is in difficulties will themselves be ignored by God (Prov. 21:13)!  Despite these warnings and commands by God, it saddens me to see struggling Christians being totally ignored by their own, better-off, families and the Brethren.  Some excuse themselves by saying they 'did not realise' (when it is painfully obvious).  Others will willingly give money to others who are unsaved and to Christian causes, but will studiously avoid giving to their own families. 

(In the New Testament there is the case of a man who gave to God whilst ignoring the needs of his own parents - God treated his giving as anathema.  Even 'giving to the Lord' is despised by God, if we thereby ignore the plight of our own kin.  It is blatant hypocrisy).  As God says (Prov. 28:6), He prefers the poor who walk in righteousness to the rich who are 'perverse' in their ways!

Jesus Christ hit at the very hearts of the rich, when He commanded the rich young man to sell everything and to give all his money to the poor.  The rich believe that nothing can touch them and that they are somehow a 'bit above' others who are poor.  Even if they give to the poor, they must not assume that they have reached the end of their duties (to the rich, giving money is easier than doing anything else) - giving to God and doing His will is far more important (Matt. 26:11).

The rules above do not just apply to the rich; they also apply to all who experience 'better times'.  That is, when we have more we ought to help those who are even poorer (Luke 14:13) - once again bearing in mind that scripture refers mainly to family and brethren (i.e. Romans 15:26).

Giving to Beggars

Should we give to beggars in the street?  What about beggars who inevitably knock on pastors’ doors, or who wait at the doors of churches?  We hear many tales of beggars who are abusive, or who abuse the gifts they are given.  There are those who throw away food and demand cash instead (usually for drink)!  In my home town there are organised gangs of 'beggars' who blatantly refuse to find work. That there is little work around is no excuse - what matters is that these people refuse to even consider work (but they take state benefit)!

They take it in turns to sit in main shopping areas, pretending to be destitute.  Then they return to their flats or to clubs.  Others drink themselves to a stupor.  Many of them will gladly take the offer of free room and food - but still do whatever they wish, showing no hint of gratitude.  They should not be expected to forever say 'thank you' (for that would be humiliating), but they should at least remember that the goodness being shown to them costs others a lot of money, time and effort.

Others are (contrary to the propaganda put out by certain charities) on the streets because they want to be there.  Many youngsters, unable to take discipline in any form, prefer to live rough than to be obedient to parents and to authorities.  There must be discernment when giving to strangers, for you could easily be giving in order to perpetuate a sinful lifestyle!  And always bear in mind that if you give to these strangers but ignore the plight of family or brethren, then your giving is deemed to be worthless by God.

Poverty is Relative

There is also the fact that poverty is relative.  I know a family whose combined income is ten times greater than my own, yet they complain that they are 'poor'!!  What they mean is that, at times, their salaries go into their bank accounts a bit late!  Their food bill is over twice our own, yet they feed only one extra person.  They have more than one car. Their home has a lower mortgage and is in perfect condition - our own is in bad condition, needing many thousands of pounds worth of repairs which we cannot afford.  Therefore, the building is declining all the time.  On one occasion, the people next door to us complained that rainwater was flowing over the gutters and into their path.  We were forced to use our entire income for one week just to replace the guttering!  That meant we could not buy food and could not pay other bills. They were simply added to our total debt.  In this way, those who are poor rapidly increase their debts.

From long personal experience of poverty (our combined income is less than  the official lowest living wage and the poverty level!), I know that poverty is relative.  We are poor, but are rich when compared to some.  Also, there is a distinction between poverty and debt.  On its own, poverty is bearable. The problems arise when there is poverty plus debt.  As one who has lived below the poverty line continuously (except for three months in 1987) since 1971, even when I have had work, I can speak with some authority.  When one is forced to borrow money to buy food, children's clothes and even to pay for electricity and other essentials, there is no possible way to get out of the 'poverty trap', unless someone kindly pays off the debts completely with some extra to spare*.  But that rarely happens.

(*Why say ‘with extra to spare’? Well, if the one in poverty does not have a ‘reserve’ to start off the period after his debts have been removed, he will simply incur more debt again, because he has insufficient income to pay ordinary bills that come in regularly. Thus, he has to borrow yet again, and so the spiral starts afresh!).

God Keeps Us

My testimony is that even though I have known nothing but poverty for all but four years of my married life and have incurred massive debts (through no fault of my own), my family is nevertheless kept by God.  I believe this is because I have not brought debt or poverty upon myself and have chosen not to give in to the usual despair of those in poverty.

If we follow God, we are promised the basics of life.  Slowly (and if God allows me to remain in my current, if low-paid, employment) we are paying off our huge debts and the rate of increase of present debts is getting slightly easier.  To us, a slight reduction in the pressure of debts is like receiving great riches!  Those who have never been unemployed or who have never known poverty, yet who always complain about money, are ungrateful to the Lord for what they have.  By complaining, they bring shame upon themselves and humiliation upon those who are in true poverty.  The humiliation doubles when the poverty is accompanied by debt.

Scripture is full of references to the poor and how we ought to respond to them.  Even though I can personally count my family amongst the poor, I know that we must give to those in need, if ever we are fortunate enough to have slightly more.  If this command applies to us, then it definitely applies to the rich.  Who is rich?  Anyone whose income covers their genuine, essential living costs (if they spend above that, then that is their deliberate choice). 

Those who earn even the minimum living wage (and are officially on the poverty line) are still earning twice my own income!  Yet, by the Grace of God, my family survives.  God help us all to obey the command to help the poor, especially those of our own family and brethren.  Giving to anyone else, when our own are in need, is sin.

When Poor Does Not Mean Poor!

It seems that charities have redefined their meaning of 'poor'.  It no longer means being in poverty.  Rather, it means to have less than everybody else (exactly what the title of this Article claims - that poverty is relative); their 'quality of life' does not match that of richer folk!  Surely, this is a sign of envy and jealousy?  There is no shame in being poor - but there is much shame for a Believer who admits to feeling covetous!  If we adhere to the new meaning of 'poor' then any man who feels he has less than another, will claim to be 'poor'.  It is about time that the 'poor' acted in maturity and not like spoilt children, demanding everything they see...and charities giving it to them!

There is also a need for poorer Christians to be grateful for what they have - whatever it is - and for Christians with more to think deeper than their own wants and circumstances.  Without a doubt, I can claim this:  show me a poor Christian family and I can show you ways in which they can better their lot, or at least, how to be happier.  Also, show me a richer Christian family (by 'richer' I mean anyone who has enough to meet their needs) and I can show you ways in which their spending can be drastically cut!

Paul was joyful no matter what his circumstances were, and he knew both poverty and better times.  So he should know.  Try reading what he had to put up with and then praise God for the far easier times you and I experience in the West.

Bible Theology Ministries

© June 1994