Edgar and Gladys Güitz: #1 of 8 Forms of Poverty

Spiritual Poverty – Lack of a relationship with God

“The daily urgent bodily needs make it nearly impossible for these tired people to take care of their souls and sprits. Therefore, they are left with a constant sense of lack of meaning in their lives, with little or no interest in moral or ethical issues. Many live with a real desire to die as a means of escape from their hard life of suffering. The majority of scavengers are not aware that, as human beings, they have the hope of eternal life after this earthly, troubled one. Also, they are not aware of the fact that there’s a living God who is the source of all life and who knows them each intimately.”

Source: http://www.pottershouse.org.gt/poverty/spiritual-poverty/

For more on what the Scriptures say on this form of poverty and combating it, see pages 6-7 of this Potter’s House document.

“There is a general lack of understanding of the Biblical approach to wealth, poverty, dependency, stewardship, generosity, and giving. These issues, together with a lack of teaching and preaching especially on giving as part of whole-life discipleship, were mentioned in all regions [of the globe] as barriers to giving.

Respondents to the questionnaire from richer countries mentioned wealth, materialism, and greed as barriers to giving in their countries while respondents from poorer countries mentioned poverty and dependency as barriers to giving.

There are limited, if any, resources on giving in most languages. Quite often Christian leaders do not know about resources such as teaching materials, ministries, and literature that encourage giving even if the resources are available.”

Sas Conradie on Global Trends in “Christian Generosity Trends and the Future of Christian Giving” in Lausanne Global Analysis 2:2.14.

“Just as Jesus was full of grace, so also we are called to be gracious to one another, generous with our compassion and understanding, forgiving, blessing others with our words and behavior.”

Mark McMinn and Clark Campbell in Integrative Psychotherapy: Toward a Comprehensive Christian Approach (Downer’s Grove: IVP, 2007) 353.

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:32-35

“Then, as you know, believers sold their possessions and brought the prices of them and laid them down at the apostles’ feet: a symbolic act designed to show that people must trample on covetousness.”

Jerome (347-420), One of the Four Doctors of the Western Church, Translator of the Latin Vulgate. Letter 71.4. ACCS.V.

“Whatever belongs to God belongs to all by our appropriation of it, nor it anyone kept from his benefits and gift, nor does anything prevent the whole human race from equally enjoying God’s goodness and generosity.”

Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (c. 218-249), in Works and Almsgiving 25. (ACCS.V. Acts.57).

Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28

“He who does not think of the future because he is longing for present goods will finally be lacking in both. But they who do good deeds in the present for the hope of future rewards will justly receive that for which they hope.”

The Venerable Bede (672-735), a monk at the Northumbrian Monastery, in Commentary on Proverbs 2.11.28. (ACCS.IX.PESOS-87).

“The confidence shown by the faithful toward the future does not lie in their own power but in God’s generosity.”

Cassiodorus (490-585) Historian, Statesman, Monk as recounted in Ancient Christian Commentary on 2 Timothy (Downers Grove: IVP, 2000) 264.

“When you give, give generously, with a joyous countenance, and give more than you are asked for…Do not separate the rich from the poor or try to discriminate the worthy from the unworthy, but let all persons be equal in your eyes for a good deed.”

Isaac of Nineveh (c. 700), Bishop of Nineveh and Monk, Ascetical Homilies 4. (ACCS.IX.PESOS-274).

“But you, dearly beloved, who have believed the promises of the Lord with your whole heart, flee the foul leprosy of avarice and make a holy and wise use of God’s gifts. Since you enjoy His generosity, take care that you may be able to have companions of your joy.

The things that are supplied to you are lacking to many, and in their need the material has been given to you for imitating the divine goodness, so that through you the divine goodness might pass over to others. As you give out your temporal goods well, you are acquiring eternal.”

Leo the Great (c. 400-461), Doctor of the Church, excerpt from Sermon 17.3-4. (ACCS.P1-50.117).

“Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ,
For all the benefits which thou hast given to me,
For all the pains and insults which thou hast borne for me.
O most merciful redeemer, friend, and brother,
May I know thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
And follow thee more nearly,
Day by day.”

This prayer is ascribed to St. Richard of Chichester (1197-1253) also known as Richard de Wych, Bishop of Chichester.

The Latin he recited on his deathbed as recorded by his confessor, Ralph Bocking (below) can be found in Acta Sanctorum, an encyclopedia of Christian saints, which is housed in the British Library:

Gratias tibi ego, Domine Jesu Christe, de omnibus beneficiis, quae mihi
praestitisti; pro poenis et opprobis, quae pro me pertulisti; propter quae plactus ille lamentablis vere tibim competebat.

Some believe the triplet “clearly, dearly, nearly” was added later. That aspect of this prayer was made popular in the modern era in Godspell (1971) when it was adapted for the song “Day by Day.”