America’s Poverty Level Increasing

If you were asked how many Americans fit into the government’s standard for being at or below the poverty level, what would your answer be?

From a personal standpoint, the statistic just offered by the Census Bureau shocked me and may well do the same to you. Their current figure is nearly 1 in 6. That bleak category amounts to about 46.2 million people, or 15.1 percent, and is a 27-year high. In addition, the number of people lacking health insurance now has increased to 49.9 million – an all-time high in the nation. These sobering statistics were released on Tuesday and covered 2010. The U.S. unemployment averaged 9.6 percent up from 9.3 percent the previous year. With that said, there is some question that the term ‘poor’ is being redefined upward by some politicians in order to bolster their own political philosophy and aspirations.

The noun ‘poverty’ in the dictionary basically means the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor. It refers to deficiency of necessary or desirable ingredients, qualities, etc. Synonyms include thinness, scantiness, and insufficiency.

Although poverty is a common concept, it is one that is rather hard to pin down to a standard definition. The reason is simple. Some who are considered poor in one place, would be seen as fairly well off in another. Having recently adopted an orphan from the war-torn Congo, we have seen this concept up close and personal. While we try and make ends meet each month, this little boy pictures us as near royalty as we may well have more in our small house than did his entire orphanage where some 50+ malnourished kids lived, often eating once a day, and sharing clothes with one another.

Likewise, many who are just scratching out a living can’t quite grasp a professional athlete’s attitude of turning his back at a multi-million dollar contract because he feels he is worth more or it is somehow beneath him. Many in this position never think about why others can’t afford the expensive tickets to fuel his outrageous salary – one that may even exceed the fan’s lifetime total earnings in just one season!

True poverty is a terrible thing and causes suffering and anguish that most in America still cannot really fathom. True starvation, an increasing world-wide problem, is an unimaginable way to die. It is slow and excruciatingly painful. And in life’s last horrific days, the body literally consumes itself. That is poverty! And that is something all Christians should be aware of and try to help alleviate on whatever level God may lead. The apostle related this idea in some rather pointed words in 1 John 3:17. “But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

But there also exists another form of poverty. It can be true of someone starving in some famine, disease-ridden, or war-ravaged nation. Or it can also be the case in the lives of a multi-billionaire who cannot even relate to any need on any level. This, simply stated, is spiritual poverty! It is a condition that every soul is born into according to Scripture. It is due to sin and because all have fallen short of God’s holy standards. (Romans 3:23) Romans 5:12 leaves no doubt as it clearly defines its deadly and contagious nature. ”Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned.”

Anyone who knows anything about God’s nature, and what His word teaches, knows that sin must be dealt with. If it is not reversed, the future eternal consequences are beyond horrific. The concept of everlasting punishment, in a literal hell, is beyond the ability of the human mind to grasp. But the same God, whose own nature forces Him to deal harshly, justly and equally with all sin, also loved sinners enough to provide the escape from spiritual poverty and its wretched consequences. (John 3:16) His supernatural solution was to send His only Son to die in our place. This would take away our guilt and remove our deserved penalty. His willing sacrifice allowed those who will trust Him as Savior to be fully cleansed and forever justified in God’s eyes. (1 John 4:14-15, 1 Timothy 4:10)

Through Christ’s love and mercy, we can become spiritually whole and rich. This required a willingness on His part to experience a level and form of poverty that even His own redeemed people will likely never comprehend. 2 Corinthians 8:9 substantiates this blessed, but very costly, truth. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.” 

Material and physical poverty has plagued mankind since sin entered the race and will continue until God someday ends it. But the far greater issue is unsolved spiritual poverty and the very real and eternal nightmare it represents.

Those who have become rich in and through Christ should thank Him constantly - regardless of their life’s economic status. And they should also seriously share their faith with those still spiritually poor with a level of fervency as do those now in great physical poverty and fighting for their very survival.

Bill Breckenridge