Financial Discipleship – the Bible on the PoorSample

Poverty has been a trial from the beginning… through the tests of time. But it's not always an indication of laziness, ignorance, stubbornness, or curse. Look at the story of Job, an upright and blameless man of God. In just one day, because of fear, he lost everything.

But Job clung to what he knew and the Lord answered. When Job prayed for his friends, despite everything they said to discourage him, the Lord saw Job’s continuous praises on his lips. And everything the devil tried to take from him was restored.

God blessed Job twice as much with his possessions, and he went on to have 10 more children. Job died a full man (Job 42:10-17).

Poverty is a revelation of a need that believers can meet with the blessings God has bestowed upon them.

Proverbs 14:31 (NKJV) says: He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

If you look up the definition of “reproach,” you may find the word “disapproval.”

When we jump to conclusions about or distance ourselves from someone because of their poverty, we are telling the Lord Almighty that we disapprove of His workmanship.

It’s scary, but it’s the truth.

Only He sits high and looks low. Poverty does not push us down on the totem pole; neither does wealth elevate us to a throne. His blessings, especially the financial and material ones, are not intended to be stored or hoarded. He intends for us to use them to bless others.

(excerpt taken from The Bible on Money, Compass-finances God's way, 2022)