My dear friends at FB, let me share my thoughts with you: THE MOST EFFECTIVE KEY TO POVERTY ALLEVIATION Taking cue from Pope Francis’ call to help the poor and the marginalized , the Catholic clergy in our country requested him to declare this year as the “YEAR OF THE POOR”. Because of the pope’s shining example, many of us want to answer his call. But, I think the first thing we should ask is: “what is the cause of poverty? How can it be alleviated, if not eliminated?” Who can give the right answer more than Jesus, who loves the poor? Matthew 9:35-37 (NLT) “35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. 36 When he saw the crowds, HE HAD COMPASSION ON THEM because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” And in his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught: Matthew 6:25-33 (NLT)- 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, HE WILL CERTAINLY CARE FOR YOU. Why do you have so little faith? 31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 SEEK THE KINGDOM OF GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE, AND LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY, AND HE WILL GIVE YOU EVERYTHING YOU NEED.” Jesus Christ teaches us to avoid worrying. Its doesn’t in any way help supply our physical needs – our material poverty. It only adds to our problems. One commentary on this verse says: “Worry may damage our health, disrupt our productivity, negatively affect the way we treat others, and reduce our ability to trust in God…. Here is the difference between worry and genuine concern – worry immobilizes, but concern moves you to action.” How true it is. God promises to supply our needs if we seek him and put him first in our life. God promises to supply our needs if we seek first his righteousness and fill our thoughts with his desires. God promises to supply our needs if we serve and obey him in everything. Ric Warren, author of the Book “Purpose Driven Life” said: “Remember that God is the source of our supply. This is the critical cornerstone to a strong financial foundation. If you forget this you will be plague with financial worries the rest of your life. If you forget this, and look at other source, you’ll gonna be anxious.” He continued: “If you think your salary is the source of your supply, what happens when you’re fired? If you think your bank account is the source of your supply, what happens when it’s empty? If you think your inheritance is the source of your supply, what happens when it’s not there? You must put security on anything that cannot be taken away from you.” For me, that’s the LOVE OF GOD TO US. The Apostle Paul wrote: Romans 8:38-39 (NLT) - 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, NEITHER OUR FEARS FOR TODAY NOR OUR WORRIES ABOUT TOMORROW—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” With these principles that our Lord Jesus teaches, we can safely say that the solution to poverty is God himself! Therefore, before seeking the help of others, why don’t we come to Jesus first and seek his Kingdom and his righteousness? Why don’t we put our trust in him before trusting others and ourselves to alleviate our poverty. Our body will always be poor materially, for as long as our soul is poor spiritually. May this prayer of the Apostle Paul to the Ephesians be of help to alleviate our poverty: Ephesians 3:14-21 - 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Carlos Mañgalindan Castro Grace Communion International GCI-Pampanga
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 03:44:40 +0000
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