If God gave you the purpose of helping the poor..

[Curious Atheist]

Then what were poor people put here for?

If you look at the question more deeply there are many teachings by jesus and friends that you should give to the poor. Many Christians follow this call and work in soup kitchens or give to charity as a result. But what were the poor put here for? They have nothing to give, so they can only take. Why did God make the less fortunate less fortunate, surely they won't have the same opportunities for happiness as those put here to aid them?

It just doesn't make sense, please can someone explain. But please can you use plain english and not biblical quotes because they make no sense.

 

[AlexBP]

But what were the poor put here for? They have nothing to give, so they can only take.

Poor people actually have a great deal to give, and they often give a great deal. Jesus Christ himself was poor, as were the apostles. Saint Francis of Assisi was poor, as were St. Thomas Aquinas, Saint Teresa, Martin Luther and many others.

Measuring the ability to give solely by means of the ability to give away money is simply a reflection of twenty-first century American capitalist values, and only tangentially related to any genuine measure of generosity.

 

[Curious Atheist]

Poor people actually have a great deal to give, and they often give a great deal. Jesus Christ himself was poor, as were the apostles. Saint Francis of Assisi was poor, as were St. Thomas Aquinas, Saint Teresa, Martin Luther and many others.

Measuring the ability to give solely by means of the ability to give away money is simply a reflection of twenty-first century American capitalist values, and only tangentially related to any genuine measure of generosity.

Using a soup kitchen as an example. The more wealthy are working dishing out soup (giving). The poor are taking the soup, and have no means to give any soup or anything to anyone else. Why give them soup if you would be just as well to give them friendship?
Shouldn't all Christians be poor and follow Jesus's example?

 

[solarwave]

Then what were poor people put here for?

If you look at the question more deeply there are many teachings by jesus and friends that you should give to the poor. Many Christians follow this call and work in soup kitchens or give to charity as a result. But what were the poor put here for? They have nothing to give, so they can only take. Why did God make the less fortunate less fortunate, surely they won't have the same opportunities for happiness as those put here to aid them?

It just doesn't make sense, please can someone explain. But please can you use plain english and not biblical quotes because they make no sense.

God didn't make less fortunate people. Not everything happens in the world because God makes it happen. There are poor people due to the structure of society, the way the world works and past events.

 

[Lukaris]

I think people give whatever they can give of what is good of themselves. Some can provide companionship & acts of charity & others less adept at companionship try at least charitable acts. We must pray & see what God wants of us & not assume our own will. Much of this is using our conscience according to God's commandments & will, our "reasonable service" as St. Paul instructs in Romans 12.

 

[grasping the after wind]

Then what were poor people put here for?

If you look at the question more deeply there are many teachings by jesus and friends that you should give to the poor. Many Christians follow this call and work in soup kitchens or give to charity as a result. But what were the poor put here for? They have nothing to give, so they can only take. Why did God make the less fortunate less fortunate, surely they won't have the same opportunities for happiness as those put here to aid them?

It just doesn't make sense, please can someone explain. But please can you use plain english and not biblical quotes because they make no sense.

I'm sorry, could you use more complicated English? What you are saying here makes no sense.

 

[razeontherock]

Why did God make the less fortunate less fortunate, surely they won't have the same opportunities for happiness as those put here to aid them?

While it may make no sense, clearly you have no experience with the truly poor, because often they are the happiest people on Earth.

 

[elman]

Then what were poor people put here for?

If you look at the question more deeply there are many teachings by jesus and friends that you should give to the poor. Many Christians follow this call and work in soup kitchens or give to charity as a result. But what were the poor put here for? They have nothing to give, so they can only take. Why did God make the less fortunate less fortunate, surely they won't have the same opportunities for happiness as those put here to aid them?

It just doesn't make sense, please can someone explain. But please can you use plain english and not biblical quotes because they make no sense.

God created all men. He did not just put the poor people here. Perhaps the purpose of being created is not to achieve happiness in this world but to become a loving being in this world. I think the hidden treasure in that is the only way we can be happy in this world is by loving others and serving others.

 

[Faulty]

Being poor is not a sin, but seeking happiness through the satisfaction of our own lusts is a sin.

Besides, of the poor, scripture states, "has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?" (Jas 2:5), but of the rich, Jesus stated, "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." (Matt 19:24)

It is the believing poor, who rely on God to meet their needs, and He does, but the rich rely on the sufficiency of their money in the difficult times, and they are the most deserving of our pity, because everything they trust in is temporary.

 

[Sophrosyne]

It is not an easy thing to define poor unless you are comparing to those who have more and decide how much is enough to be "not poor". I think the issue is not as much helping the poor but as Christians we are to help out our fellow brothers in Christ and others when they need help also poor or not. I have helped out people that were not poor at all but they needed a little help.
In other words God gave us the command to love our neighbors whether they are rich or poor and since the poor tend to need more help then it is sometimes easier to find a way to help them than those that are not as poor. I belong to a church that constantly helps the poor and those in need so by giving to my church I am helping the poor but I still help those around me when I can regardless of them being poor or not.

 

[CryptoLutheran]

Why couldn't a believing poor person also give? Jesus praised the poor elderly lady who gave her single widow's mite.

Also, the dynamics of a person's life can change, a person who was once poor could gain and be able to reciprocally give back.

Everyone is always able to give of themselves for others.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[drich0150]

Then what were poor people put here for?

If you look at the question more deeply there are many teachings by Jesus and friends that you should give to the poor. Many Christians follow this call and work in soup kitchens or give to charity as a result. But what were the poor put here for? They have nothing to give, so they can only take. Why did God make the less fortunate less fortunate, surely they won't have the same opportunities for happiness as those put here to aid them?

Perhaps if you spent some time being poor or helping them you would have an answer to your question.

It just doesn't make sense, please can someone explain. But please can you use plain English and not biblical quotes because they make no sense.

What is given is opportunity to solidify precepts and vows. This is an immeasurably valuable part of a believers life. one that can not be bought or "earned" any other way.

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

Then what were poor people put here for?

I think Jesus often spoke of helping the people that were poor monetarily but also the spiritual poor. Help those who are needy, whether monetarily or spiritually. People can always offer something to someone in need whether it be money (which is often not the best remedy) or soup or companionship or love.

In answer to your question. Poor people are put here to help the rich because often the rich have much to learn from the poor.

Which brings me to your next quote:

Why did God make the less fortunate less fortunate, surely they won't have the same opportunities for happiness as those put here to aid them?

Yikes. MONEY DOES NOT BUY HAPPINESS. Go spend some time in the slums of India and you will see that these people are often just as content, if not more content, with their lives than many, many wealthy North Americans. There have been studies done that show no causal link between socio-economic status and overall happiness.

Shouldn't all Christians be poor and follow Jesus's example?

Perhaps in an ideal world all Christians would follow Jesus' example and sell most of their material possessions and live an austere, non-materialistic life where they live on only what they need while at the same time giving what little they have to helping and loving others in a selfless manner.

Shouldn't everyone do that regardless of creed? Shouldn't you do that? Why do you only suggest Christians should do this? Would the world not be a better place if individuals, governments and the global populace strove for that ideal?

Alas, capitalism and consumerism and the god called Money came along.

 

[Curious Atheist]

I agree with many of sentiments given. Perhaps my question only really becomes relevant at the extreme end of the scale. Like somebody with terrible bad luck, brought up with nothing but abuse and no opportunity for a decent education etc. This person might want to do so many things but can't. On the other end of the scale a person could be born a billionaire and spend a life of leisure doing exactly what they want. Even if they decide to give their money away, they have the choice to do so.
So without arguing about what defines poor or true happiness I hope you understand my question. I suppose it would be better phrased 'why does God create bad luck' in a way. I am not arguing we need lots of material possessions for happiness, just that somebody who watches their friends starve to death and goes through terrible war has less chance of being over the moon with his situation as perhaps somebody who has what they want and ejoys it. I know I am happier when I don't worry about money, that isn't to say I would be better off getting rid of everything I own (which isn't much). My goal in life is to start my own dog rehabilitation/rehoming centre and I need money to make it happen. But then I won't want for anything else or need more money than I need to feed the dogs. But I do need the opportunity to start!

Is this clear?

 

[Lukaris]

I think a major part of our fallen world is that often circumstances that could lead to man becoming more virtuous just fail. Why did Lincoln have to be shot? Why did Hilter have to survive several plots against him (one of these non violent)? The Lord states that there will be greater awareness of manmade & natural catastrophes in Matthew 24:6-7; "all these are the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8). Personally, I wish this were not so but I also give thanks to God for being alive. Much of the Bible is sorrowful (Ecclesiastes, Job, Lamentations etc.) and it is from this sorrow that we cry out to God and act according to His commandments to strive for what is good. There are obviously atheists who strive in a similar fashion but fail to understand the grace of God guiding them to do so. Look at the life of our Lord Jesus Christ who in His sinless humanity brought the glory of God to an individual level in forgiveness of sins, healings, etc. "... the world knew Him not...His own received Him not" (see John 1:10-11).

 

[grasping the after wind]

If God gave me a purpose I would have a purpose. What purpose does an athiest have?

 

[leftrightleftrightleft]

I agree with many of sentiments given. Perhaps my question only really becomes relevant at the extreme end of the scale. Like somebody with terrible bad luck, brought up with nothing but abuse and no opportunity for a decent education etc. This person might want to do so many things but can't. On the other end of the scale a person could be born a billionaire and spend a life of leisure doing exactly what they want. Even if they decide to give their money away, they have the choice to do so.
So without arguing about what defines poor or true happiness I hope you understand my question. I suppose it would be better phrased 'why does God create bad luck' in a way.

I think you are more drifting towards the question of "why is there suffering?".

I'm really surprised you haven't made a thread devoted solely to this since you've danced around the question so often.