Scripture References: Jeremiah 33:3; James 2:1-7
To the Romans, poor was a relative term. “The poor were the rich who were not very rich.” Horace, who made a virtue of his poverty, said he had only a “life raft” in reserve, consisting of two estates, one whose house covered six thousand square feet.
Poverty also remains relative in America. Many families who fall beneath the government’s official poverty line in *2025—$15,960 for a family of four—receive noncash assistance that significantly increases public monies spent for the poor. As of 2025, Food stamps, public housing, and Medicaid reached a spending level across federal, state, and local levels to approximately $1.5 trillion, with Medicaid accounting for $742 billion and other welfare programs totaling $757 billion 2025. Almost half of poor households have air-conditioning; nearly a third have microwave ovens; more than 60 percent own a car; 14 percent own two or more cars. As long as government bureaucrats define poverty, we will discover increasing numbers of the “poor.” We’ll also find fewer and fewer “rich” people to support them. Giving economic aid without requiring labor in turn eventually bankrupts the benefactor without enriching the recipient.
Spiritual poverty inside the Christian faith is also relative. Everyone who is reborn immediately falls heir to all of the Kingdom’s spiritual wealth. However, the individual’s willingness to invest time, energy, and finances determines the enjoyment of that wealth. Economic equality is an illusion; spiritual equality is a potential reality. While we cannot have equal access to material goods and currency, all Christians have equal access to God and an equal opportunity to be spiritually affluent.
*Some of the statistics have been updated to 2025 totals.
Courtesy of Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations by Virgil Hurley © 1995 by Word, Incorporated.
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Roland Ledoux is Pastor of the outreach Ministry, Oasis Bible Ministry, specializing in Teaching, Encouragement and Intercession (both prayer and needs) since the early 1990s. He and his wife Sue, live in Delta, Colorado and have been married for over 50 years. They enjoy two adult sons, a grandson and a great grandson. He has been ordained since 1986. Fundamental Full-Gospel, Non-denominational. To learn more about Roland visit his website.
Featured Image by Jean-Louis SERVAIS from Pixabay
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