Get Real about Poverty

God said, "Let there be light", and there was light,
and the darkness disappeared.

Twenty-six million texts have been texted,
several million emails have been sent,
a million Live 8 concert-goers have cheered,
two hundred thousand protesters in Edinburgh have chanted,
but
none of these can speak, and bring a better world into being,
none of these can speak and make darkness depart.
Not even, the G8 can say, "Let there be wealth"
and "make poverty history".

However, deacons do deal with poverty,
and people sharing their possession can make a real difference (Acts 4:32-37).

Rock stars call for other people to cancel debts,
but then go to court to demand the return of a borrowed hat.

Entertainers call on governments to give away money
that they have taken from other people,
but
poverty will only be relieved by people
being willing to give away their own money.

The Good Samaritan did not demand that the innkeeper bear the cost of caring for the injured man, even though he was probably rich. The Samaritan committed to paying the full cost himself, without knowing how much it would be.

Lets get real about dealing with poverty.