Do you believe in this statement..poverty is a blessing?

Question

from God. Having nothing and being poor is not a curse, having less and living with less is a blessing from God. Do you believe that..I do, why don't you believe this? or do find truth in that statement and why?

Answer 1

I understand what you are saying, and although it is a great burden to be poor, if you believe in all the teachings of God, then you know that there are many lessons to be taught from being poor, that those who pursue materialistic things, can never possibly come to know or experience.

It's like the saying, in order to know great joy you must also know great sorrow.

I believe the poor come to know a whole lot more about compassion, human suffering, and thus come to understand and give a whole lot back to humanity, being very selfless, whereas the rich and gluttonous of the world only care about their own personal gains. In that aspect, it is a blessing, because it's more important to have a soul that is "healthy" than a body which is, but the soul remains tormented and lost.

You can see many examples of the rich who have no joy or peace in thier lives whatsoever. The same may be said of the poor, but God, if you believe in him, did say it was the meek and the poor who inherit the earth.

All said and done, there are many lessons to be learned from adversity and even poverty...to use another cliche, "Adversity builds character"...something that is greatly lacking in a great deal of people these days.

Remember...not too long ago, there were not TOO MANY people who were NOT poor....if you care to look at it in another way, most of us were EQUAL...poverty these days seems to imply everyone who is not a big shot millionaire...and if that is the definition, which I think is probably what you are really trying to say, then yes, I'd rather do with less than have my kids raised amongst greedy, selfish snots. Been there, done that.

And just on a personal note, I've been "rich"...had more money than I knew what to do with...saved most, bought my essentials, home included, but the rest I blew miserably on travel, fun and entertainment...but man, the tables can turn on you in the blink of an eye, and they often do, and for many years, I had to start over from scratch with nothing, and work my way up to just getting by. And you know what? I would rather have this life over my old anyday, because yes, I have been given many,many blessings in this life of "poverty" than I ever had in my life of "riches". No way would I turn back the hands of time to what I had then.

Sure it's hard, but I believe everything we go through is for a reason. My kids still have everything they need and more...and by more I mean they already know the lessons it took me a lifetime to achieve...so I know they are destined for greater things than I.

Answer 2

I find some truth in it. It's an eternal blessing, not an earthly one. It fosters traits such as humility (which is essential in that pride is a completely anti-God state of mind) and you really don't have much other than God to rely on, cling to, and enjoy. It keeps you focused on important things, rather than bling, weight loss, and yachts. If you don't believe in God, then no, it isn't a blessing. If you do, then poverty is a temporary state that will help earn you a mansion forever. People are saying that rich church leaders made this statement, but actually it was Jesus. He was pretty poor as far as earthly wealth.

Answer 3

The statement is true, but I don't think it's a blessing from God-- when you are born into riches you don't have to work to live. When everything is handed to you, you get lazy and never have to do anything for yourself. I'd rather be poor and have to fight to live and get stronger, than be rich and not know what it's like to live.

Until the past year, I lived in poverty and had nothing but the stuff I worked hard to live. I'm glad I had those experiences, they made me a stronger person.

Answer 4

I'm not sure that poverty is a blessing unless you mean to say that those that live in poverty are more likely to accept the Word of God as truth. Whether you are wealthy or poor, your life is a blessing if you come to know the truth, and the things in your life should be accepted with thanksgiving and also considered a blessing.

We glorify God when we live and use the blessings He has given us the way He has taught us to.

Answer 5

My parents were poor...and we did without many things. I worked my butt off at odd jobs from the time I was 12 years old...mowing lawns, shovelling snow, mopping the floors and cleaning machines at a laundromat, paper route, and working at a restaurant....just to buy school supplies, and to help my parents with the bills.

I studied my butt off too, through scholarships and odd jobs I was able to put myself through college...obtain a job, turn it into a career. I live very comfortably, have nice things, travel, etc... I invest...and, "as God as my witness, I will never be poor again" :-)

With that said, I am very aware of the blessings I now have in my life...because for so long, I did without. I appreciate everything I have, I value everything I have....I thank God for everything I have. I give away a lot, and try to help those who help themselves.

However, because I made it...I am not very compassionate with lazy people....people who do not try...people when faced with great odds, who just give up. I have little respect for long-term welfare recipients. I have little respect for poor retirees...who did not plan or save their retirement.

So, is poverty a blessing? Wow...I learned to trust and believe in God, because I had nothing else to believe in, but myself....I prayed for God's strength and help....so, it poverty probably did make me closer to God in some ways...then and now. However, that is my life experience...and there may be many life experience that those who were born wealthy had, that helped them to be close to God too.

Answer 6

No I don't really... God likes to bless his faithful servants.
I do believe that prosperity isn't for everyone though as some just let it go to their head or do the wrong things with it, but God knows better than anyone (his children) what we can handle and what we cant. I do believe that less is more in many ways but ultimately being happy with what God gave you is a contentment that the few the proud the soldiers for Christ.... really can obtain.

Answer 7

Poverty 'can' be a blessing. It can free one up from material attachments so that they devleop their love, their awareness. Wealth can be transcended, but with much greater difficulty as one would have to live poorly WITH wealth in order to transcend their wealth. In other words, they would have to live a simple lifestyle while using their money to do for others. I can't think of anyone who does this. Being poor however can be a curse if the person is forever desiring to be rich and being angry at those who have more than they do. It seems the trick is to not desire material wealth as a major motivation in your life, but to become a greater human being instead. To become more loving and giving as your main goal. One of the goals of life, whether people know it or not, is to attain oneness with existence and you can't do that if you are materialistic and selfish.

Answer 8

Poverty is a curse not a blessing. Jesus became poor that we through His poverty might become rich - 2 Corinthians 8:9
Being rich is a blessing.

Answer 9

No.

Unless you think watching your children cry in hunger is a blessing, no.

Unless having your father so desperate that he would blow themselves up so some terrorist organization would give you money to eat, no.

Unless not being able to buy your prescriptions or pay for your chemotherapy is a blessing, no.

Unless having no heat in winter and watching your babies shiver is a blessing, no.

You are on a computer, so you do not know true poverty./ Neither do I. Practice empathy, and try to understand. Know loving God would wish that upon his children.

Answer 10

This statement has been twisted by man.

Being poor is a blessing only so you can learn to appreciate what you have. It never meant for you to give up on life and be poor.

Most of us start off poor, then work hard, get stuff and appreciate it.

Others start off rich, never having to work for anything, thus have no respect for anything or anybody. So for them, it would be a great blessing to be poor for a week, to learn to appreciate everything and everybody they have in their lives.
Only the church wants you to stay poor, so you will go to church, put money in the plate, and pray for help.

To set things straight: POVERTY is a place every one of us can get out of. You only have to want to. It is NOT God who holds you there, IT YOURSELVES:)

Remember, God said: Be fruitful and multiple. Never did HE say, live in poverty your whole lives:)