April 18, 2010
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Breaking
Poverty
– We all want to help the poor. It’s a Biblical
mandate that strikes close to home. We’ve all been in situations where
we
needed someone else’s encouragement and help to make it. Bearing one
another’s
burdens is a real expression of love. Kings should lead the way in
breaking
poverty off of people. We shouldn’t wait for the government to do it or
fund
it. The
balance to that view is that giving money doesn’t break poverty. For
most,
poverty is typically one fruit of a life without stewardship. It’s not
an
identity. In fact, referring to people as “the poor” is the economic
equivalent
to a racist remark. There are times when the cruelest, most ungracious
thing we
can do is to reinforce a welfare mindset with money. People are robbed
of their
self-respect and end up resenting the giver. People in poverty are
there
temporarily until they can be shown how to help themselves. We are all
called
to be Kings and we simply need to be motivated to sow a lifestyle that
produces
prosperity. And my God
will meet all your
(my) needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:19
NIV I was young
and now I am old, yet
I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging
bread. They
are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed. Ps
37:25-26 NIV Roots
of Entitlement
– Wanting what we don’t yet have
can be a source of motivation or resentment depending on our beliefs,
attitudes, and responses. “Entitlement” is a prison that keeps God’s
people in
poverty. Where does it come from? What can we do to break the cycle? I
want to
suggest that part of the entitlement mentality has indirect roots in
our
theology. We need a balance between wisdom and revelation; a balance
between
what we expect from God and what we take responsibility for ourselves. I keep asking
that the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of
wisdom and revelation, so that you
may know him better. I
pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened… Eph 1:17-18
NIV Balance
- As a
pastor in the prophetic / charismatic stream, I emphasized relating to
God
through revelation. Listen to the language of revelation and the
language of
the wisdom of Proverbs and hear the contrast. Revelation
–
prophetic, intercession, healing, divine appointments, dreams,
breakthrough,
miracles, miraculous provision, anointing, God’s presence, angelic
visitation,
revival. Wisdom
–
character, education, experience, competence, understanding, mentors,
work,
heart’s desires, responsible, planning, discipline, budgets, creative,
entrepreneurial, wealth. My
congregation came to church to experience the presence of God. I and
they were far less interested in learning how to write a business plan,
and we
had no concept of learning to multiply finances. I’m not implying the
importance of one over the other – we need both wisdom and revelation.
I just
want to point to the fact that our equipping in church emphasizes one,
and when
we get into the marketplace we walk with a limp because we typically
undervalue
wisdom. Failures in the marketplace are not for lack of intercession;
they are
typically the natural result of what we sow; incompetence – and the
lack
everything else on the wisdom list. Our
present station in life is simply the sum of our beliefs, attitudes
and actions. The good news is that change is possible “if” I’m willing
to sow
different beliefs, attitudes and actions. Do
not be deceived, God is not
mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Gal 6:7-8 NASU They will eat
the fruit of their
ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness
of the
simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;
Prov
1:31-32 NIV Entitlement
and Passivity
– Look again at the list of words for revelation.
They are all things God does! In fact, as believers, we are “entitled”
to
access God’s presence and everything on the list. Should we pursue
them?
Certainly! We should be “God chasers.” Revelation makes us great
preachers.
However, if you want to be a King, overcome poverty, and inherit your
ministry
and vocation… you have to add wisdom to your portfolio and overcome the
passive
attitudes that produce poverty. Please
hear this. We need both. Wisdom without revelation is dry and
lonely. Revelation without wisdom is broke, preachy, and self-righteous. Politics
– There
is raging debate in the US right now about the cost of welfare,
Medicare, child
care, health care. We should personally care for people – not just wait
for the
government to do it. But, our goal must be to teach them to care for
themselves
and to eventually join the ranks of those who help others out of
poverty…
theologically, socially, emotionally, politically, and financially. Perpetually
giving money to people who refuse to work is a form of
religious and political codependency. I understand secular politicians
seeking
to buy a voting bloc with promises funded with someone else’s money,
increased
debt and higher taxes. I don’t understand the cruelty of labeling “the
poor”
and leaving them in captivity… a prison cell called “entitlement.” Freedom from that prison cell isn’t just having enough to eat. It’s having a dream that motivates the work required to own a home, a car, an education, a blessed family, a vocation that expresses ministry, enough wealth to be generous, and a vision to bless the nations and be a King. Self-respect, based on our identity in Jesus, is liberating… and motivating.
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