Help for the Poor

Help for the Poor

Notably, it has been said: "No greater burden can be borne by an individual than to know no one cares or understands." Yet, despite lack of compassion on the part of the majority, there is still good news for the poor—both for the present and for the future.

Unhappily, many have little interest in helping the poor. According to The World Book Encyclopedia, some believe that "people in society compete for survival and . . . superior individuals become powerful and wealthy." Those who believe this theory, called social Darwinism, may view the poor as just lazy people or spendthrifts. Yet, rural laborers, migrant workers, and others, despite being poorly paid, often work very hard to feed their families.

In many lands poverty is quite common. Hence, the poor—the majority—are not made to feel that they are a failure. Nevertheless, in such lands there are people living in great luxury in the midst of the poverty. Comfortable, sumptuous homes exist alongside crowded, unhealthy shanties. Well-paid men drive their expensive cars along streets crowded with the indigent and unemployed. In such lands the poor are painfully aware of their plight. Really, "the poor suffer not only from poor nutrition, bad housing, and inadequate medical care, but also from constant anxiety about their condition," says The World Book Encyclopedia. "Unable to get and hold good jobs, they lose all sense of dignity and self-respect." How, then, do some of the very poor cope with their situation? What has the good news about Jesus got to do with coping?

First, remember that poverty may be made worse by unwise habits. Consider some examples. Valdecir admits that while his wife and small children had little to eat, he wasted money maintaining an immoral life-style. He says: "Although employed, I never had any money but always had various lottery tickets in my pocket." Milton, because of heavy drinking and smoking, lost a business with 23 employees. He says: "I spent nights on the street, unable to go home, and my family suffered a great deal because of me."

João too wasted his salary on vices. "I spent nights away from home. All I earned was not enough for my vices and affairs. The situation became unbearable, and my wife wanted a separation." In addition to his financial and marital problems, there were yet others. He says: "I caused problems with relatives and neighbors, and I especially had problems at work. As a result, I was constantly out of work." Júlio was a drug addict. However, he explains: "Since my salary was never enough to sustain my drug habit, I began working as a narcotics dealer so as not to have to buy drugs."

Raised in a poor family of eight children, José wanted to have something for himself. Figuring he had nothing to lose, together with other youths he began robbing people. In despair, another youth became a member of a gang named Headbangers. He explains: "Since most of us were very poor, we found a certain satisfaction in breaking things and attacking people."

Yet, today these men and their families no longer suffer deep privation or feelings of bitterness and resentment. No longer are they helpless or hopeless. Why not? Because they studied the good news that Jesus preached. They applied the Bible's counsel and associated with like-minded individuals in congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses. And they learned some very important things about wealth and poverty.

Copyright © 2007 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. All rights reserved.