How Do Poor People Get Poor?
Answer: Most people become poor by being born into poor families. In fact, many people in the world are born in a poor country where almost everyone is poor. It’s not their fault that they are poor.
There are many other reasons for poverty too. Some people are born with a physical or mental handicap or they are injured in an accident or in war, and they find it very hard to get a good job.
Some are poor because they have been cheated by other people. And some people become poor because they made bad choices.
No matter what makes someone poor, we must try to help. God is kind to us even though we make bad choices and mistakes.
So we should be kind to others, even if we think it’s their own fault that they are poor.
Key verse: A poor person’s farm may produce much food, but injustice sweeps it all away. (Proverbs 13:23)
Related verses: Proverbs 22:2; 26:13-15; Ecclesiastes 7:14; Ezekiel 34:20-22; Amos 8:4-7; James 2:1-5
Related questions: If poor people can read and do things, why can’t they get a job? Why should we put money into the church for poor people when it’s their fault they’re poor? Why don’t poor people get a job?
Note to parents: Never tell a child that poor people are always to blame for their own poverty, or that people always become poor because of wrongdoing. People become poor for many reasons, and misfortune and injustice are responsible for a lot of poverty (see Amos 8:4-7). Our duty as Christians is to help those who hurt.
Why Doesn’t The Government Just Print More Money In Factories And Give It To The Poor?
Answer: Some governments have tried to print more money and give it to the poor. It did not work because very soon the money was worth very little.
Money is not just printed paper. It gets its value from something else. In our country, money gets its value from all the goods and services that people make.
Each dollar means that someone somewhere did one dollar’s worth of work.
The more work we (the whole country) do, the more money we have. The less work we do, the less money we have.
The best way to help poor people get more money is to help them get jobs.
That way they get paid while they also create more valuable goods and services.
Key verse: Hard workers have plenty of food; playing around brings poverty. (Proverbs 28:19)
Related verses: Proverbs 1:10-19; 20:21; 28:15, 22
Related question: Why can’t we just get money without working?
Why Didn’t God Give Us Money Right Away When My Dad Lost His Job?
Answer: We don’t always know why God does what he does. But we know that he loves us and has a plan for us, even for the hard times.
Sometimes God is working out something that we don’t know about yet. Maybe it’s even better than what we wanted or had before.
God can use times like this to teach us to trust him more. As we trust him more, he can trust us with more.
Losing a job can be very painful and difficult. The person without a job wonders what he or she will do and where the money will come from.
If your dad has lost his job, pitch in with any money you can. Say encouraging words to him. Donate your allowance.
Do odd jobs for neighbors to earn more money if you can. Ask God to provide what you need, and trust him to do so.
Key verse: [God says,] “Trust me in your times of trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.” (Psalm 50:15)
Related verses: Psalm 138:7-8; Philippians 4:6-7, 19
Related question: Why doesn’t God sometimes give money when you need it?
Note to parents: This question is difficult to answer when a family member has lost a job and needy dependents don’t know what the future holds.
But it is very important to avoid blaming God or anyone else. Pull together, help each other, and readjust your expectations of needs and wants.
Take the experience as an opportunity to show your children what it means to live by faith.