Been thinking about this recently again. It is not something new to me. Instead I have been occasionally thinking about this since my encounter with poverty face to face in my trip to Cambodia in 2003.
During the last 2 years in the course of my work, I have been exposed and encountered with families or individual who are trap in this vicious cycle of poverty. Jeffery Zach, in his book “The End of Poverty”, stated that there are 3 levels of poverty. They are those in extreme poverty where they can’t meet basic needs for survival. Those in moderate poverty just barely meet their basic needs. Lastly, those who are in relative poverty, generally have income level below those of the national average, lack access to cultural goods, entertainment, recreation and quality health care, education, and other prequisities for upward social mobility. I would think many of the poor in Singapore fall in the 3rd category i.e. relative poverty. However, this doesn’t mean they are not poor.
I have known some families or individual who try to upgrade themselves and work hard, but bills still pile up, what was earned, is easily spent off to pay bills and necessities. Worse still, when emergency situations arises (medical, death of family members, lost of job etc), they do not have any savings or reserves to help tide them over. Furthermore, bills and arrays still need to be pay off. How then can they be out of this cycle? How can we really help? Should we simply keep providing them? Will they develop an over-dependence attitude? Shall we help them to look for job or better jobs? But what if job opportunties are not available? Shall we help them upgrade themeselves in terms of skills and, but what if, likewise, job opportunities are not available?
Frankly, I don’t know. I know it is not an easy problem and likewise there is no simple solutions to it.
I am just thinking aloud…….
“… Give me just enoughto satisfy my needs, For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.” Prov 30:8-9 (NLT)
Lord, help me to be content. Meanwhile, grant to me a heart that is willing to give, a heart that is not fearful and a heart that is teachable, that I may be bold and creative to help the poor and those in needs. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.