Is it a sin to remain poor?

[LeeS]

I have enjoyed this debate and have fine tuned my thinking which is a good thing. I also admire the softer tone you LeeS are taking, it shows a heart willing to listen to the word of God not just the things others would like to teach. (Whether or not we ever see eye to eye on the issue)

I have never taken what someone said and just believed it. I'm unable to count the number of times I have people jump all over me because I question them too much. A previous Pastor friend of mine compared me to a bull dog (it was a complement) because I keep going after what I do not understand until I do understand and then I bite down and it's firm in my grip. It took me a long time to understand what little I do understand on this subject and when I can get some clarification on it as I have from my brothers victoryword, didaskalos, look, and TheScottsMen I'm going to tell them so. I was not just agreeing as accused, I was understanding better.
If I came across with a harsh tone before it was most certaintly un-intentional. I do however, when bitten several times in a row without cause, tend to bite back. But that was not an issue between you and I.

I would like to clarify one thing. I do believe that we should do everything we can (without sinning) to remove poverty, sickness, etc. from our lives. But, some of the people who spent time in consentration camps, some of the people who are starving to death in Zimbabwa, some of the people who are hungry in Haiti, etc. are worshiping and serving the same God we do. If what you are saying does not apply to them, then it does not apply to me. For God is the same God, and it is the same Word for each of us.

I did not say that what I say does not apply to them, I said that in this conversation we were not talking about them. There are always circumstances somewhere in the world that do not fall into the box just so. However, the Word works wherever it needs to work.

There are differing circumstances that put differening people in differing postions but God's Word never changes positions. I don't have all the answers. I believe that God meets the needs of any who trust Him. Whatever that need may be. I've had Him do too much in my life and I've seen Him do too much in the lives of others to think any different.

One of my favorite books is the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis I believe the line I refer to is in The Boy and His Horse. Shasta has to leave Aravis behind because she had been clawed by a Lion. This worries Shasta so he asks Aslan (represents Christ) why Aravis was clawed and left behind. Aslan replies that that is her story and this is his. I think we often forget that we each have a different story to live, but if we totally trust God, the story will always end with God being glorified.

Yes, we each have our own story, and God is the sustanance for them all.