A Most Criminal Cause of Poverty!!

"Much food is in the fallow ground of the poor, and for lack of justice there is waste." (Proverbs 13:23, NKJ)

One of the most criminal causes for poverty is exploitation! I received a letter from a friend who's been doing missionary work in Africa. He recently visited Tanzania. I was shocked when I learned this that he wrote:

"Tanzania, listed as one of the poorest countries in the world, may well be in dollars per capita, but in vegetation, produce, water, gold and diamonds, it is not. It is said that corruption in the government has left the people bereft. Musa, a Movuno village worker told me of his childhood. 'We would play with the bright shiny stones. We didn’t know their value. Our parents would find them on the lake shore or lying with other stones on the ground. But one day a white man came and he saw the stones we played with. He gave us money for them. He didn’t pay much, but to us we were so happy. Over the years many white men came in search for diamonds and we now know their worth.' His eyes grew large and his voice rose in zeal 'If we can find one, we can become very rich.'"

But as he says, the potential for wealth, and a LOT of wealth is there. But the people miss out because of ignorance.

But then, I see the same thing happening spiritually in our western churches.

We, who are SO rich materially, are spiritually impoverished by the spiritual exploitation of false shepherds. Shepherds who should share with us the riches of God's Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, but they turn to man-made philosophy instead..

"My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
'Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law of your God,
I also will ignore your children.'" (Hosea 4:6, NKJ)

And as Paul said to Timothy:
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:
"For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (2 Tim 3:1-5, NKJ)

But we have a treasure, much greater that we can ever realise....

"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ." (Ephesians 1:3, NLT)

And as Paul prayed:
"I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
"I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
"I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 1:16-19, NLT)

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
"And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
** Who forgives all your iniquities,
** Who heals all your diseases,
** Who redeems your life from destruction,
** Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
** Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." (Psalm 103:1-5, NKJ)

ALL of this is OURS, but yet we are SO impoverish!! We are still guilty, sick, bound, defeated, and dissatisfied. And THAT is criminal!!