In Mexico this month, I (Jonathan) spent a lot of time thinking about the nature of poverty. Often times when we think of poverty, we think a lack of material resources is the defining mark of those who are most in need. However, if you were to ask the poor themselves, they will usually define poverty in terms of shame and helplessness, lack of progress, depression, and feelings of inferiority.
From the book Voices of the Poor, here are the words the poor use to describe their own situation: “For a poor person everything is terrible - illness, humiliation, shame. We are cripples; we are afraid of everything; we depend on everyone. No one needs us. We are like garbage that everyone wants to get rid of.”
In the book, When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert , the authors explain that what is at the base of poverty is in fact an array of broken relationships. Relationships that are not just, not for life, not harmonious or enjoyable. “Poverty is the absence of shalom [peace] in all its meanings. “
For us, as believers, our task is to be bearers of shalom, ministers of reconciliation. We carry a kingdom of peace with us into areas of brokenness. We proclaim a kingdom whose identifying mark is that the relationship between man and his creator is no longer broken. The message does not stop there however. It preaches right relationship to the creation in which we live, right relationship to each other, and a right understanding of ourselves as bearers of God’s image. Our calling to care for the poor needs to better reflect this message.
Consequently, when we want to help the poor, it will require a lot less money and a lot more time. It will take effort toward recovery and development, not simply financial relief.
