National Poverty Awareness Month takes place in January, ironically following the biggest spending seaon in America--Christmas.
While overall Christmas spending in America increased last year, so did poverty. More and more Americans are struggling to provide food for their families and pay their mortgage or rent. This, of course, is largely due to a general augmentation of unemployment, which is almost at 10%, an avalanche of national disasters (think oil spill, hurricanes, floods...) -- and, perhaps, the increase in illegal immigration (particularly in California).
But there are other factors.
For one thing, the continual bombardment against families -- assaults from lude TV shows demeaning families, the lure of porn, confusion over what really constitutes a family, facile divorce (opting out of laying down one's life in Christlikeness to preserve self and selfishness)...-- creates instability which leads to poverty. Yes, poverty. How so? Well, think of the half million kids in foster care because their families cannot take care of them.
Foster children who age out of the system without connecting with a family often end up on the streets. That's poverty.
Similary, many veterans -- those who've fought to protect the freedom of this beloved nation -- also end up homeless. That's poverty.
But there are other kinds of poverty that are prevalent in America. The poverty of spirit.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit..." (Mat.5:3).
The poor in spirit are those who know they are not rich, not full, not complete and not self-sufficient. They are aware of their need for God. And, in essence, that makes them rich for "...theirs is the Kingdom of God." Their humility leads them to the One who can complete them and save them. (Quite different from those who are "full of themselves.")
Ironically, the poor in spirit are often also poor in wealth. Sometimes poverty is the very thing that turns a person to God. But that's not an excuse -- far-be-it -- to ignore the poor and not reach out to help them. On the contrary, God commands us to help the poor.
To the rich man, "Sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you'll have treasures in Heaven" (Mat.19:21). It was an exchange. Temporal wealth now or eternal wealth later.
To the oppressed, "...share your food with the hungry, and provide the poor wanderer with shelter..." (Isa.58:7).
To everyone, "You cannot serve money and God..." (Mat.6:24).
What should a Christian's reponse be to poverty? Give. Give. Give. And it will be given back to you. (Luke 6.38).Perhaps not in material terms, perhaps something far more siginificant -- treasures in Heaven. You cannot outgive Give and it will be given.
And giving can be very, very practical.
For San Diegans there are numerous ways to help the underprivileged. For starters, there's the San Diego Food Bank. You can give or volunteer. (Or, if need be, you can receive.)
There are also numerous homeless shelters always needing help.
Then there are the foster children. Become a foster parent, a mentor...or just help a foster child by donating new clothing and toys to Sleep Train (presently collecting new pjs, socks and undies).
You can also donate tax-deductible contributions to help orphans and underprivileged children. (Consider Orphans First where your entire gift will help needy children.)
These are just some of the ways to reach out to the poor and be blessed. You can no doubt find many more.
Janey L. DeMeo M.A.
Copyright © January 2011
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