It is amazing the things you can learn when you read the Bible. Did you know that the Bible tells us how to cure poverty? No one can doubt that poverty is a problem that affects millions in our country and world. We need to find a cure and the Bible spells it our. I have read these verses so many times, but this last time I read it, God showed me something new. I refer you to Deuteronomy 15:4-5 which says, “There will be no poor among you, however, because the LORD is certain to bless you in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance—if only you obey the LORD your God and are careful to follow every one of these commands I am giving you today.”

     God spells it out. If we will obey the Lord and follow his commands, there will be no poor people among us. The folks who push the “Prosperity Gospel” that promise that God will make you rich or that God wants you to be rich are right (sort of). God doesn’t want you or anyone to be poor.

     You might be reading this saying, “I obey God, but I’m still poor. Why is that?” The word given in Deuteronomy is given, not to individuals, but to the nation as a whole. The nation as a whole must obey the commands of the Lord God. We don’t, so we have poverty. We as a nation, however, will never begin to follow God until we as individuals begin to follow God and DEMAND that our leaders also follow God and set an example for us of obediance and following God.

     This promise from Deuteronomy is very similar to Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.” The phrase “all these things” refers to the previous verses where Jesus talks about people needing food, clothing, and shelter. Jesus gives the command here in verse 33 that our responsibility is to seek after the things of the Kingdom of God (obey and follow God) and these physical needs will be taken care of by God (these things are His responsibility). If you are spending your focus and energy on the things God is supposed to take care of, why would he do it. His promise is made to free you to pursue the eternal things of God that really matter.

     God, who knows all things, is incredibly smart. After telling Israel how to avoid having poor people in the land, tells Israel how to handle and deal with the poor. Deuteronomy 15:11 says “For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘You must willingly open your hand to your afflicted and poor brother in your land.’” God knew Israel, and us, would not follow him and obey his commands.

     It is not too late. You as an individual can start right now following God with all your heart. See what a difference it will make. You may not become wealthy beyond your wildest dreams, but God promises he will meet your needs

     I will admit that this headline is a leading question. As we read the Scriptures, we can see God asks many things of us. In my daily Bible reading today I saw something that spoke to me. I read Numbers 8-12. In this passage the Children of Israel have been in the wilderness living off manna for a year. The people begin to complain about God’s provision and ask for meat. As a man who loves to eat meat, I can understand their thinking. The problem with their complaints was that the people were saying they had it better in Egypt.

     The Lord asks us for trust. He asks, or expects really, for us to be content with what he has given us. What angered God most is that after he provided Isarel with freedom from slavery and while taking them to the Promised Land, they began to complain that things were better in slavery and on their own.

     What has God blessed you with? What has he provided for you? Are you content with it? Do you think that things and life was better before he delivered you from slavery to sin?

     1 Timothy 6:6 says “Godliness with contentment is a great gain.” God desires to give you forgiveness and freedom from sin. When you accept that gift, it truly grieves God for you to think you had it better back in your sin controlled life. It is like spitting in God’s face.

     He asks you to trust him. He asks you to believe that his way is best for you. He will never let you down. Be content with his gifts. They are better than anything you can get on your own.

Pastor Todd