Why Poverty?

Updated: November 14, 2025

Make no mistake: the Bible declares poverty and lack to be bad things. Under the Old Covenant (aka, Old Testament, the Jewish experience before Jesus), poverty was a result of disobedience and indifference to the commands of God. Tremendous material and spiritual benefits were promised to those who kept their covenant with God. If you are experiencing poverty and lack today, take heart! Jesus paid a terrible price for our disobedience and indifference, ratifying a brand New Covenant (aka, New Testament) whereby everyone may experience the abundant provision of the Father. That’s right: even non-Jews can now claim God as their Father and Provider by faith in Jesus’ sacrifice. This New Testament living should be no less wonderful than it was in the Old Testament, but will be even more so for us if we learn to live by faith in this area. (See also Why Giving?)
(Deuteronomy 28:1-14, 1 John 3:1-2, Ephesians 2:19, Proverbs 22:7)