NEWS & VIEWS: WORLD POVERTY

• The Gross Domestic Product of the poorest 48 nations (i.e. a quarter of the world’s countries) is less than the combined wealth of the world’s three richest people.
• 20% of the population in the developed nations consumes 86% of the world’s goods.
• 1.3 billion people live on less than the equivalent of a dollar a day.
• Nearly three billion people, roughly half the world’s population, live on less than the equivalent of two dollars a day.
• 1.3 billion people do not have access to clean water.
• 3 billion people do not have access to sanitation.
• 2 billion people do not have access to electricity.
• 12% of the world’s population uses 85% of its water; none of these live in the Third World.

THE CONTRAST BETWEEN RICH AND POOR

The gap between rich and poor not only gets ever wider, fewer people control the bulk of the world’s wealth and an ever increasing part of that wealth is owned by multinational corporations. Approximately 842 million people go hungry each day. Most of these live in third world countries, but 10 million live in rich industrialised nations.

Compared with even the relatively recent past, many countries of the world enjoy greater wealth and abundance of food than ever before.

Wealthier societies as a result generally have improved health and resources. Increasing agricultural productivity has produced a situation where in theory there is enough food for all. However the problem is that food is neither produced nor distributed equitably. Whilst millions starve, obesity is an increasing problem in richer countries.

• Poverty and malnutrition increase risk of disease and premature death. The World Health Organisation (2003) suggests that:
• Poor people may eat and absorb too little nutritious food, making them more disease-prone.
• Inadequate or inappropriate food leads to stunted development and/or premature death.
• Nutrient-deficient diets provoke health problems; malnutrition increases susceptibility to disease.
• Disease decreases people’s ability to cultivate or purchase nutritious foods.

This downward spiral of poverty and illness may result in premature death. At the time of writing this article the world population is about 6.3 billion, of which one source estimates 6 million died due to starvation during the first six months of this year.

THE G8 SUMMIT

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan (L) speaks to U.S. President George W. Bush as they arrive for a group photo session at the end of the G8 summit at Gleneagles, Scotland, July 8, 2005

Concerned and well- intentioned people have tried to highlight the consequences of poverty and starvation that affect mankind on a global scale. At a recent G8 summit meeting an agreement was reached to cancel some third world debts and try to tackle poverty. Whilst this summit was taking place protestors called for these eight wealthy nations to ‘make poverty history’ and ‘make war history’.

Following the summit, though some progress and promises of aid were made, Reuters commented that ‘Africa has heard rich nations promise to help the continent out of poverty before, but has ended up with little more than crumbs’.
 

World leaders pose for a group photo at the end of the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.

Whilst pleased with the result, Tony Blair noted that ‘measures agreed by leaders of the Group of Eight nations to help lift Africa out of poverty will count for nothing unless African governments put their own houses in order.’

THE FAILINGS OF HUMAN GOVERNMENT

A recent interview with a spokesperson for the Nigerian President Obasanjo highlighted that a sum of $300 million had been spent on a football stadium in the capital Abuja, rather than being spent on providing food and other aid for the people.

Despite aid that has been given by governments it is really only about 0.3% of annual expenditure, a very small amount of their wealth. Though agreement has been reached to increase this to 0.7% by 2015 many doubt if merely giving aid is the answer. Trading restrictions, corruption, greed, mismanagement, lack of skills, poor climate conditions and lack of resources are all blamed for contributing to the continuation of human suffering and misery.

Can world governments ‘make poverty history’? History amply demonstrates that human governments are incapable of resolving the problems of poverty, disease and death. Why? Because the root cause of so much misery can all be boiled down to one factor – human nature and sin - a turning away from God’s just laws. Will God allow this state of affairs to continue?

THE DIVINE SOLUTION

No! God will send the Lord Jesus and set up His Kingdom. Jesus will be a righteous King dispensing justice to the whole world. The return of Jesus has formed the subject of other articles, so let’s concentrate now upon the solution to the problem and the contrast between present world poverty and the Kingdom to come.

If we look around at the spiritual state of the world, we see many cultures, beliefs, and churches. They can't all be right. We read that God's word is truth; there can only ever be one truth. The earth is full of spiritual darkness; yet the time will come when as Isaiah foretold:

‘He (God) will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations’ Isaiah 25:7.

That shroud of spiritual darkness that envelops all nations will be lifted; the nations of the world will then understand the Divine purpose in creation. The peoples of the earth will then want to seek God with one accord:

‘Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us his ways, And we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.’ Isaiah 2:3

It may be said the nations will have no choice but to serve God under threat of punishment. However the justice of God's law will be undeniable and mankind will want to seek him. The spiritual darkness of the world will be lifted by the work of Christ as foretold by the prophet Jeremiah:

‘No more shall every man teach his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.’ says the LORD…’ Jeremiah 31:34.

Then at last, as all true Christians pray, the Lord's will - shall be done on earth, as it is now done in heaven. The prophet Ezekiel spoke of a great temple that will be built as a ‘House of prayer for all nations’. All nations will go to that temple and indeed will desire to go. The prophet Zechariah wrote:

‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ Zechariah 8:23

True Christians recognise that mankind is powerless to resolve the overwhelming problem of poverty and disease. They look forward to the day when Jesus will return and all the things that God has promised become living reality.

A CURSE ON THE GROUND

The harmony that first existed between man and his Creator in Eden will be restored. The curse that came as a result of sin will be lifted and mankind will return to an agricultural way of life. As a result of Adam and Eve’s disobedience of God’s command, the Lord said to Adam:

‘…Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat from it’: Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat from it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.’ Genesis 3:17-19

We see abundant evidence of the truth of these words in the world about us and in our own mortality. Contrast this with the age to come when the words of the Old Testament prophets will be fulfilled:

‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘When the ploughman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed’ Amos 9:13.

‘…I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields’ Ezekiel 36:29-30.

So many areas of the world are desert land and wilderness, indeed one report says that the desert areas of the world are increasing rapidly each year by several hundred square miles. In contrast, the Scriptures depict a wonderful view of what the earth will be like in the Kingdom age:

‘The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, The excellency of our God…For waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water’ Isaiah 35:1-7.

‘There will be an abundance of grain in the earth, on the top of the mountains; its fruit shall wave like Lebanon.’ Psalm 72:16

Who could imagine the deserts of the world becoming a place of streams and pasture or producing food? Who now could imagine crops growing even on the tops of mountains? But such will be the conditions in the kingdom of God.

OLD AGE AND SICKNESS

Now, the changes that will take place in the Kingdom age, will include a change in the nature of mankind as well. All human beings experience disease, disability, old age and ultimately death. The reason for this situation is given by Isaiah:

‘The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth, its people must bear their guilt’. Isaiah 24:5-6. (NIV)

God gave mankind dominion over his environment and all that He had created. However, we have only to look at our environment to see how ‘the earth is defiled by its people’. Human nature has not changed since Adam and Eve disobeyed their Creator. People throughout the ages have turned their backs on God, breaking his covenants and laws, then paying the penalty for their disobedience. Disease, disability, general human frailty and ultimately death, are a direct result of disobedience to God.

However, when people live by God’s just law, they will eventually be reconciled to their Creator. In the Kingdom age we read that ‘The inhabitant shall not say I am sick.’ Isaiah 33:24. God also promises:

‘Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing.’ Isaiah 35:5-6.

What a wonderful thought that all the things which ail mankind now, will be things of the past. No more poverty and malnutrition - no need to fear such things as cancer, heart disease, strokes and other illnesses. God has promised as we read in Isaiah:

‘…behold, I create new heavens and a new earth’...No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of my people, And my elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the LORD, And their offspring with them. It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear’ Isaiah 65:17, 20-24.

THE REWARD OF THE FAITHFUL

The Bible gives us hope for the future! A great transformation will take place in this world. Bible prophecy indicates that this time of great change will come soon. Those who believe the Word of God, have faith and put that faith into action in their lives can look forward with hope and joy to the time when Jesus will return. Paul writes of that time in words that all true believers anticipate as the culmination of their hope in Christ:

‘…we eagerly await a saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body’ Philippians 3:21 (NIV).

Then as God has promised, ‘those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint’ (Isaiah 40:31. The Apostle John decribed that time of perfection in words taken from the prophet Isaiah: ‘…there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away’ Revelation 21:4; see also Isaiah 25:8.

CONCLUSION

We have considered some aspects of life in this world of great contrasts but hopefully sufficient to demonstrate to you the reader how this world will change. For those who truly love God and believe his word, there is every incentive to maintain hope bright and alive despite the poverty and suffering that overshadows the lives of millions of people.

The Apostle Paul wrote: ‘faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen’ Hebrews 11:1. Faith is a conviction about the truth of God’s Word even though His promises will not be a reality until Christ returns. Faith believes that God's word cannot fail, as we read:

‘For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.’ Isaiah 55:10-11

The Word of God cannot fail; it will accomplish all that He intends. It is as certain as the cycle of creation. Having faith – ‘Is what the ancients were commended for’ Hebrews 11:2 (NIV). Men like Abraham and David who believed the promises that God made to them will live once again and inherit the new world order. God has promised that those who believe His Word will also find mercy and salvation as Isaiah records:

‘Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And he will have mercy on him; And to our God, For he will abundantly pardon. ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways’, says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.’ Isaiah 55:7-9.

The world struggles under a burden of inequalities that bring about so much human suffering. Mankind does not have the answer, but God does. His gracious offer of salvation and a better life in His Kingdom is open to all who believe and trust His Word. Will you respond to His mercy and love?

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