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I have recently come across many people who talked about poverty being a curse and the fact that Jesus became the curse in order free us from the curse of poverty. This led me to study what the Bible says about poverty.
What is poverty?
Although poverty is a relative term, in my opinion, poverty is the state of not having one's basic needs met.
Are poor Christians under a curse?
In order to answer this question, we must examine what the Bible teaches on this subject. We must also examine the lifestyles of our Lord Jesus and his disciples.
Here are a few things that I have learned from the scriptures:
*WE MUST BE HAPPY IF OUR BASIC NEEDS ARE MET
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt 6:33)
Here, Jesus promised us that if we give priority to seeking God, our basic needs would be taken care of (Mt 6:33)
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.(Prov 30:8)
Here, the writer is seeking righteousness rather than wealth. He is happy with his daily bread.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.(Prov 23:4-5)
As Christians, we must not strive for riches that "fly away"; rather we must strive to understand and obey Will of God.
*JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE NOT RICH
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58)
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” (Mk 10:28)
As we see, neither Jesus nor his disciples held on to any worldly belongings that could indicate that they were rich.
*POVERTY IS OFTEN THE RESULT OF LAZINESS
The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.(Prov 21:5)
4 Sluggards do not plow in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.(Prov 20:4)
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man. (Prov 24:33-34)
The Bible teaches that poverty comes as a result of laziness.
*WE MUST SEEK GODLY QUALITIES RATHER THAN RICHES
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse. (Prov 28:6)
16 Better a little with the fear of theLord
than great wealth with turmoil. (Prov 15:16)
Our motives for seeking God must be pure. We must seek his face and not his hand.
*GOD LOVES THE POOR
Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. (Prov 17:5)
He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to knowme?”
declares the Lord. (Jer 22:16)
*WE MUST LOVE AND HELP THE POOR
35 “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. (Lev 25:35)
Speak up and judge fairly;defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Prov 31:9)
10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen.Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. (Lev 19:10)
*PROSPERITY PREACHERS ARE PEDDLING THE WORD OF GOD
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Tim 6: 3-9)
Prosperity preachers mislead many to believe that Godliness is a means to financial gain. They lay a trap for gullible people, and these people fall into the trap as they desire to become rich.
17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. (2 Cor 2:17)
The lavish lifestyles of prosperity preachers clearly indicate that they are interested in tax free income to support their lifestyles.
A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(Prov 22: 1)
Prosperity preachers do not care about what everyone else is saying, as long as they can make their millions by telling people that they lack faith and therefore are poor.
So, is poverty a curse? Did Christ really die to free from the curse of poverty?
Poverty is not a curse from God per se that came as a result of lack of faith or sin.
Also, Jesus did not die to redeem us from the curse of poverty. He died to redeem us from the curse of the Law. The Law became a curse for mankind, as it is impossible for anyone to keep the entire law. This is what Paul is trying to convince the Galatians Jews of.
Here's the verse that most people use out of context:
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Gal 3: 13)
Praise be to God for sending his Son to redeem us from the curse of the Law and from sin!
I have recently come across many people who talked about poverty being a curse and the fact that Jesus became the curse in order free us from the curse of poverty. This led me to study what the Bible says about poverty.
What is poverty?
Although poverty is a relative term, in my opinion, poverty is the state of not having one's basic needs met.
Are poor Christians under a curse?
In order to answer this question, we must examine what the Bible teaches on this subject. We must also examine the lifestyles of our Lord Jesus and his disciples.
Here are a few things that I have learned from the scriptures:
*WE MUST BE HAPPY IF OUR BASIC NEEDS ARE MET
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Mt 6:33)
Here, Jesus promised us that if we give priority to seeking God, our basic needs would be taken care of (Mt 6:33)
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.(Prov 30:8)
Here, the writer is seeking righteousness rather than wealth. He is happy with his daily bread.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
do not trust your own cleverness.
5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
for they will surely sprout wings
and fly off to the sky like an eagle.(Prov 23:4-5)
As Christians, we must not strive for riches that "fly away"; rather we must strive to understand and obey Will of God.
*JESUS AND HIS DISCIPLES WERE NOT RICH
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58)
28 Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” (Mk 10:28)
As we see, neither Jesus nor his disciples held on to any worldly belongings that could indicate that they were rich.
*POVERTY IS OFTEN THE RESULT OF LAZINESS
The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.(Prov 21:5)
4 Sluggards do not plow in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.(Prov 20:4)
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man. (Prov 24:33-34)
The Bible teaches that poverty comes as a result of laziness.
*WE MUST SEEK GODLY QUALITIES RATHER THAN RICHES
6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than the rich whose ways are perverse. (Prov 28:6)
16 Better a little with the fear of theLord
than great wealth with turmoil. (Prov 15:16)
Our motives for seeking God must be pure. We must seek his face and not his hand.
*GOD LOVES THE POOR
Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. (Prov 17:5)
He defended the cause of the poor and needy,
and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to knowme?”
declares the Lord. (Jer 22:16)
*WE MUST LOVE AND HELP THE POOR
35 “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and are unable to support themselves among you, help them as you would a foreigner and stranger, so they can continue to live among you. (Lev 25:35)
Speak up and judge fairly;defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Prov 31:9)
10 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen.Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. (Lev 19:10)
*PROSPERITY PREACHERS ARE PEDDLING THE WORD OF GOD
3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. (1 Tim 6: 3-9)
Prosperity preachers mislead many to believe that Godliness is a means to financial gain. They lay a trap for gullible people, and these people fall into the trap as they desire to become rich.
17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, as those sent from God. (2 Cor 2:17)
The lavish lifestyles of prosperity preachers clearly indicate that they are interested in tax free income to support their lifestyles.
A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.(Prov 22: 1)
Prosperity preachers do not care about what everyone else is saying, as long as they can make their millions by telling people that they lack faith and therefore are poor.
So, is poverty a curse? Did Christ really die to free from the curse of poverty?
Poverty is not a curse from God per se that came as a result of lack of faith or sin.
Also, Jesus did not die to redeem us from the curse of poverty. He died to redeem us from the curse of the Law. The Law became a curse for mankind, as it is impossible for anyone to keep the entire law. This is what Paul is trying to convince the Galatians Jews of.
Here's the verse that most people use out of context:
13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Gal 3: 13)
Praise be to God for sending his Son to redeem us from the curse of the Law and from sin!