Poverty Report

Name: Dylan Bigatton

Assignment: Poverty Report

Class: 10B

Word Count: 1, 530 Words

Poverty Report

In every country, in every town there is poverty. Poverty is at an all time high and it's still increasing. Almost half of the world's population are living a life of hardship. Many are fighting against poverty, but others are becoming more selfish, ignorant and careless towards poverty. There are many solutions to poverty, but a main one is through the Bible and Jesus Christ. "Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share", 1 Timothy 6:18. This bible quote explains that everyone should be willing to share and be rich in their own good deeds. The definition of poverty is a complex one, made up of many causes. There are a few ways that Christians respond to this issue; one of them is ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency). There is a lot of interaction with poverty between faiths, culture and society. Through all the aspects of poverty there may be a solution and recommendations for the future. If the problem of poverty is solved forever, the whole world would be a much better place.

Poverty isn't just about money, it is hunger, no shelter, not being able to attend school, not knowing how to read or write, not having a job, and having a fear of the future. Therefore the simple definition of poverty is when you don't have the bare niceties of live. There are seven main causes of poverty. These are overpopulation, global distribution of resources, high standards of living and costs of living, scarce education and employment, environment filth, economic and numerical trends and individual responsibility, and welfare dependency. As you see poverty is an important factor of modern day life with many causes. "Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat", Mother Teresa. This quote shows everyone thinks of poverty differently, but all views of poverty are right because of the many types of poverty.

Everyday there are people writing books or articles about poverty and many of them don't even help the issue. The Bible however is a book for helping poverty and recommendations for Christians to become involved. "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth", 1 John 3:17-18. There is one organisation that definitely follows this verse; they are ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency). ADRA is a world-wide Christian organisation, which helps poverty all around the world. ADRA mainly helps poverty caused by natural disasters. In 2004 ADRA had assisted nearly 24 million people with more than $159 million in aid. In 2005 alone ADRA responded to over 50 emergencies and helped at least 28 million people. Their goals are to enhance the relationships with partners, facilitate community, reduce conflict, hardship and poverty, improve quality of life, and excel in everything they do. ADRA has definitely responded to poverty as Christians and followed the bible context. They are a true role model of how a good Christian would respond to poverty.

The Bible has a possibility to save the whole world from poverty. If more people would read the Bible they would find answers to a lot of their questions. For example if someone was trying to help people poverty there is a verse saying how to help. "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality", Romans 12:13. Through the Bible it has been told several times that people should help the poor, by giving and not receiving. "In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive' ", Acts 20:35. It is not only those who are living a life of poverty, but those who are struggling, like Widows. "Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need", 1 Timothy 5:3. The Bible can help with any problem around the world, a main one is poverty. If the government had of read the Bible for advice twenty years