13 Things that will make you Poor

I had the idea the other day to read through the book of Proverbs and make note of all of the verses that relate a cause of poverty. I found thirteen. Their insight is challenging for anyone along the so-called “socio-economic” ladder, and have a lot to teach us all about living wisely.

Now, before we dig in I have to make one thing clear. The book of Proverbs also teaches that: those who oppress or mock the poor show contempt for their Maker (14:31, 17:5), those who treat them kindly honor God and will be rewarded (14:31, 19:17), those who shut their ear to the poor will cry out and not be answered (21:13), and those who are generous to the poor will be blessed (22:9). Therefore, in no way, shape, form, or fashion am I standing on my soapbox ranting against those who are in need. Instead, I am simply categorizing and summarizing a few patterns that the Bible says lead to poverty. I hope this list will help us all recognize the varying shades and shadows of these items in our own life and enable us to live a little more wisely. (Passages quoted from New International Version, ©2011)

SLEEP: “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” (Prov. 20:13)

This will make you look at your snooze bar differently! I think at the heart of this matter is an unwillingness to do what needs to be done (get out of bed and get to work) for the temporary, immediate satisfaction of succumbing to “sheet fever”. I think this describes someone who cannot make himself do something he does not want to do.

TALKING: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Prov. 14:23)

Talk is cheap says Solomon. Mere talk is no substitute for hard work. As long as we are content to only talk about our endeavors, goals, or plans, we will stay where we are.

DISREGARD OF DISCIPLINE: “Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” (Prov. 13:18)

Those who disregard accountability, consequence, and correction will not gain the character (or knowledge) needed to live wisely. If we are unwilling to learn from our mistakes and the counsel of others, it makes sense that we will continue to wallow in the same circumstances our entire life—seemingly unable to improve our lot.

LAZINESS: “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” (Prov. 10:4)

It is obvious that laziness—an unwillingness to work—will lead to poverty. Though we may hear rumors of people getting rich quick or making “easy money”, these instances are the exception not the norm. Diligence, not laziness, leads to wealth.

WITHHOLDING WHAT IS DUE: “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.” (Prov. 11:24)

Putting aside integrity in order to profit will lead to poverty. Perhaps in the short-run gain may be attainable, but over the long haul those who put aside right to gain riches will not prosper.

BEING STINGY: “The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.” (Prov. 28:22)

This is a tricky one. There are two ways to take this. First, it could mean that those who eagerly desire riches and are stingy will always be poor (no matter how much money they have) because their greed is never satisfied and their stinginess robs them of enjoying any of their money (so it is as if they are poor anyway). Or, the proverb could be interpreted in an eternal sense. The greedy and stingy will be like the rich fool Jesus spoke of who had nothing when his soul was required of him. (Luke 12)

HASTE: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” (Prov. 21:5)

Planning, preparation, and preparedness lead to profit. It simply makes sense. In the same manner, it is logical to assume that disregarding these things will steer us in the other direction. Making financial decisions hastily and impulsively will never lead to success in the long-term.

OPRESSING POOR: “One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth…come to poverty.” (Prov. 22:16)

Taking advantage of the poor for one’s own financial gain will not lead to prosperity. Similar to withholding what is due, the book of proverbs teaches that trading morality for money will not profit in the long-term (10:2). Money will indeed be made, but it will dwindle by the same immorality by which it was gained.

FLATTERING THE RICH: “One who gives gifts to the rich…come to poverty.” (Prov. 22:16)

There is a manner of living by which the rich (or those who want to be) spend their money trying to out-do and impress one another. In this elaborate charade of conspicuous consumption, all wealth is wasted in an attempt to beat the competition.

CHASING FANTASIES: “Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.” (Prov. 28:19)

Wake up and go to work. This proverb doesn’t discount dreams or lofty long-term thinking. Instead, it challenges those who seem unable to accomplish much of anything because they are constantly chasing fantasies and unrealistic endeavors. Like a person in a desert turning this way and that going after every mirage, they refuse to point themselves in one direction and start walking.

LOVE PLEASURE: “Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.” (Prov. 21:17)

Being obsessed with pleasure is self-defeating. Real fulfillment is the by-product of pursuing a greater good (like love, for example). The people described here do not understand this; therefore, they endlessly chase pleasure hoping the next thing, experience, or purchase will satisfy their souls.

GLUTTONY: “Do not join those who…gorge themselves on meat, for…gluttons become poor. And drowsiness clothes them in rags. (Prov. 23:20-21)

Over-consumption will deteriorate your resources. A lifestyle of gluttony and gorging will consume any amount of resources or income. “Give me all I can get and more” will bottom out the barrel eventually.

ALCOHOL: “Do not join those who drink too much wine…for drunkards…become poor. And drowsiness clothes them in rags. (Prov. 23:20-21)

The addiction to alcohol (or any other addiction for that matter) can and will destroy your financial life. All resources will be spent on drunkenness (and the lifestyle that goes with it) only to sober up and repeat the process.

Before diving in I want to start with a little aside.  It has been shown time and time again that poor people are more generous with their money (proportionally) than rich people:

For decades, surveys have shown that upper-income Americans don’t give away as much of their money as they might and are particularly undistinguished as givers when compared with the poor, who are strikingly generous. A number of other studies have shown that lower-income Americans give proportionally more of their incomes to charity than do upper-income Americans. (NY Times)

I think sometimes we don’t approach this question from the right perspective.  We tend to be a little melodramatic.  We discuss this issue painting a picture of a single mom with starving kids who can’t put food on the table because the manipulative pastor is ringing every last cent out of her budget.  With A LOT of irony, as the rich and middle class sit around debating the financial ramifications of the Bible’s instructions for the less fortunate, the poor are out giving.  Kind of funny if you stop to think about it.  The rich and middle class sit around trying to “help” the single mom who in actuality might be giving a higher proportion of her income than them!  Therefore, I think we should move forward keeping in mind that, statiscally speaking, maybe the poor should be the ones teaching the rich what to do with their money!  (Plenty of exceptions for sure, but think it brings a little balance to the conversation to make this point first.)

Should poor Christians give?  We will start at ground level and move up.

First, Paul says in 2 Cor. 8:12 that giving “is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.” Giving what you don’t have is not Biblical.  So, if someone literally has nothing, then they have nothing to give.  This is permissible by Scripture.

Second, in several passages in the New Testament, giving is proportional. (Acts 11:29)  We can move forward recognizing that it is Biblical for a person with less means available to give less.

Thirdly, the poor widow in the gospel accounts gives us huge insight into this question.  When she puts in her miniscule two copper coins, the description in Mark says she gave “all she had to live on” (12:44).  Jesus’ reaction is crucial.  HE COMMENDS HER, He doesn’t correct her.  Jesus points out her contribution to the disciples.  Jesus doesn’t stop her from giving.  We can’t quite make the leap that the poor should give based on this passage alone, but we hopefully are beginning to see that it is appearing more and more likely that the impoverished aren’t exempt from the call to give.  (It is important to note that the poor widow, though she gives all she had, still didn’t give what she did not have – discussion point one.)

Next, I want to ask you two simple questions:  Would you agree that giving is 100% about the heart?  Would you agree that giving is 0% about the amount?  If we answer yes to both questions, then why do we distinquish between the rich and the poor?  If giving has nothing to do with amounts and everything to do with our hearts, then why is our call to give dependent on our tax bracket? 

Final Answer:  Yes, I think the poor Christian should give, though they should give less proportionally (with the exception of a person who literally has nothing to give.)  Here is why I believe they should:

-I believe the Bible teaches that giving is matter of the heart not the amount; therefore, when we distinguish subgroups as exempt we unintentionally make giving about numbers and amounts.  The poor should give, even if it is a very small amount (Remember it has everything to do with the transformation of heart, so a tiny, miniscule amount–say two copper coins–is a significant contribution because of the heart that gave it.) 

-There are so many lessons that have nothing to do with money that are learned by giving.  We prevent the poor from learning these lessons by telling them to withhold all of their contributions. 

- Giving is about principles not assets.  Are those low on time and energy exempt from the call to serve?  Are those lacking self-control exempt from the call to purity?  If not, why would someone with lesser resources be excused from giving altogether?  I know these aren’t perfect comparisons, but they aren’t as different as we might think.

-If we say that only a certain income level is called to give, we get into the ugly mess of trying to decide what “poor” is.  It’s easy to see how this gets complicated quickly. 

-Saying the poor shouldn’t give makes us approach the matter too pragmatically.  We think, “If a person’s budget is slim pickings to start with, and then they give yet more of it away, how are they supposed to live?”  In this, we leave no room for faith and no opportunity for God’s provision if we require all contributions to be from surplus.  I think God provides for the poor Christian that gives in faith.  After all, remember where we started.  The poor are out-giving the rich (proportionally).  So this whole notion of “if they give, they won’t live” isn’t really reality. 

- If we argue that their contributions are “keeping” them poor, we passively state that financial stability/success is a higher priority than supporting the work of the Lord.  (1 Tim. 5:8 makes this an easy one to argue about, but I hope you see the point I am trying to make.  I do not mean to neglect your family in order to give.)

In conclusion, I think most people ask this question out of compassion for those less fortunate.  I think it is a well intentioned inquiry.  But, let’s not care for the poor only with our words.  Let’s care for them with our wallets too.  Take your compassion for the poor (that drives you to ask this question on their behalf) and turn it into generosity for those less fortunate.  In essence, let’s take our compassion from conversation to contribution.

You may walk away from this post thinking I have no heart for the poor.  Nothing could be further from the truth!  In actuality, it is because I care for the poor I encourage them to give (according to their means).  I desire them to experience the joys of generosity, the wonders of God’s provision, the heavenly rewards of sacrificial giving, and many other fruits of obedience.  If these things weren’t true, I don’t think we would see the poor giving as generously as they do. 

How Should a Christian View the Welfare System?

The real issue on the table when discussing welfare is helping the poor. It doesn’t take more than a casual glance at the Bible to realize that God’s people are called to help the poor (Prov. 29:7 or 1 John 3:17-18, for example).  From Genesis to Revelation the poor have a special place in the Lord’s heart.  We, as God’s people following His word, must help the poor.  With that in mind, I give you the following thoughts on the welfare system in America.  (The following is more a list of some thoughts and convictions than an official stance or position.)

1. The first thing that concerns me about welfare is what it reveals about our current culture.  It shows that in modern America, the government, not the church, has become the primary care-taker of the poor and needy.  This is to our shame.  If Christians and the church alike gave as much care and attention to the poor as the Word of God calls us to, there would be no need of welfare–or at least nothing like what we face today.  First and foremost, the very need for welfare shows that we, the church, must step up to be the example in today’s world of meeting the needs of those in poverty.  (Whether or not the government should get involved in such matters is a political debate I dare not to enter.  We will keep it simple- the amount of poverty in America simultaneously co-existing with the levels of wealth in the church should challenge us all just a little.)

2. The previous point made mention of all the political undertones facing the welfare argument.  I fear that the political issues regarding the system often causes Christians to neglect the needs of the poor or resent the meeting of their needs through a social system.  Sadly, many Christians do not even attempt to give to the poor and needy because they believe that social programs are already meeting all of society’s needs.  This is not the calling of scripture.  Christ calls our hearts to meet the poor in their places of need, not expect someone else to.  All in all, the political, philosophical, social, economic, and spiritual dynamics of the welfare argument often take our eyes off of the real issue- helping the poor.

3. Continuing along the lines of the political debate (noticing a trend here?), welfare turns caring for the poor and needy from a spiritual compassion to a social agenda.  The Bible calls us to be compassionate and generous, finding joy in meeting the needs of our less fortunate brothers and sisters.  Welfare as a social program negates the spiritual dynamics of supporting the needy.  Over the long-term, this is not healthy for the giver or the recipient.

4. Biblical giving will always help the needy not hinder them.  I worked full time with teenagers in poverty for two years.  In my personal opinion, there is no visible restoration in welfare.  Actually, it seems to have quite the opposite effect.  With rare exception, the current system of welfare does not help its recipients in the long term- it cripples them.  Why it does this is a whole different issue.  The reality is that Biblical giving will lead to restoration of the individual, not merely meeting his temporary physical needs.

5. Socially funded welfare makes giving to the poor required not voluntary (taxes).  New Testament giving is to be willing, from the heart and generous.  It is nearly impossible to help a person understand the spiritual gains and joys of generosity when contributions are mandatory.

6. The Bible strongly criticizes those who are able to work but choose not to: “If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either.  For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.  Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.” (2 Thes. 3:10-12)  It is the argument of scripture that those who are able to work to provide for their household must do so.  Welfare too often allows perfectly capable individuals choose not to work.

7. Lastly, most Christians frustrations with welfare don’t come from an anger that its recipients aren’t genuinely being helped, but instead a bemoaning of the tax burden it creates.  This brings us back full circle.  If we would rise up to the high calling of God to bless the poor with redemptive, restorational generosity then a situation like the one we currently face would not exist.

In conclusion, the best strategy for the Christian who is not a fan of the welfare system is to get himself and those he can influence in the business of redeeming and restoring the poor out of their poverty.  This will bear much greater fruit in this life and the next than writing letters, voting one way or the other, or signing petitions.  “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them.” (Mark 14:7)

(Some of the ideas above were lifted from an article by Larry Burkett located in Using Your Money Wisely.)

“A very large number of my present congregation belong to those who labour hard, and who, perhaps, without any unkindly reflection, may be put down in this catalogue of the poor. They have enough-barely enough, and sometimes they are even reduced to straitness. Now remember, my dear friends, you who are poor, there are two sorts of poor people in the world. There are the Lord’s poor, and there are the devil’s poor. As for the devil’s poor: they become pauperized by their own idleness, their own vice, their own extravagance. I have nothing to say to them tonight. There is another class, the Lord’s poor. They are poor through trying providences, poor, but industrious,-labouring to find all things honest in the sight of all men, but yet they still continue through an inscrutable providence to be numbered with the poor and needy. You will excuse me, brothers and sisters, in exhorting you to be contented; and yet why should I ask excuse, since it is but a part of my office to stir you up to everything that is pure and lovely, and of good report? I beseech you, in your humble sphere, cultivate contentment. Be not idle. Seek, if you can, by superior skill, steady perseverance, and temperate thriftiness, to raise your position. Be not so extravagant as to live entirely without care or carefulness; for he that provideth not for his own household with careful fore-thought, is worse than a heathen man and a publican; but at the same time, be contented; and where God has placed you, strive to adorn that position, be thankful to him, and bless his name…voluntary poverty is voluntary wickedness. But inasmuch as God hath made you poor, you have a facility for walking with Christ, where others cannot. You can go with him through all the depths of care and woe, and follow him almost into the wilderness of temptation, when you are in your straits and difficulties for lack of bread. Let this always cheer and comfort you, and make you happy in your poverty, because your Lord and Master is able to sympathize as well as to succour [give aid].”

(I am not trying to say people on welfare are “the devil’s poor”, but the source of a person’s poverty must be considered to analyze the welfare system wisely and Biblically.  For my thoughts check back on Friday.)