Helping the Poor
About the Author
Ben spends most of his time working with underprivileged kids in Tijuana, Mexico, encouraging them to continue their education. He's an unofficial member of Iglesia Bautista Monte Horeb, which runs the elementary school, Centro Pedagógico Didaque.
Many third world ministries (including the one I work for) have the tag line: “Helping the poorest of the poor.” After all, if you’re going to send money—your own money—it’s got to have the greatest effect, right? Americans want a return on their investment. We want results. Before and after pictures, receipts, pie graphs, and general satisfaction that our money changed someone dramatically. For if we are going to give up a cup of coffee a day, it darn well has to make the world a better place!
A couple of years ago Dr. Martin (Mexican gentleman who went from “rags to riches”) told me, “You see all of these homes, Ben?” I looked up on the hill, littered with shacks. “Yah?”—I asked. “All of these people live like this because they want to. They don’t want to improve their situations. Look, instead of spending money on things that are important, they all have satellite dishes.”
This was hard for me to hear back in the day. I did not want to accept the truth that we “will have the poor with [us] every day for the rest of [our] lives.” (Mt. 26:11a, The Message) Surely, I thought, it’s not their fault—they’ve been marginalized, victimized, and if only given the chance, will break thru the cyclic chains of poverty.
True, many do desire (by action) improvement. Yet true, many for a multitude of reasons desire (by lack of action) to remain the same. Yet helping the “poorest of the poor” is biblical. Jesus told the rich ruler to sell everything he had and give to the poor. The point of the story is what Jesus told his disciples afterwards. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt. 19:24, Mk 10:25, Lk 18:25) Yet, undoubtedly the rich man knew that many of the poor want to be poor. And giving his money to them would not produce tangible returns.
This is where it gets difficult. What to do?
I don’t know if this’ll clear it up, but here’s an interesting occurrence: We (down here in Mexico) are sent money to buy staple food items that are to be given to (you guessed it) the poorest of the poor—which we do. However, these people will always be (and are) at our doorstep. Jesus said they would be. Some deserve it. Some don’t. Some break my heart. Some drive me crazy. Some are slowly on their way up. Some will be back tomorrow. It’s never ending.
However, last month we gave away food to two middle-class families (middle-class third world, mind you). It’s not really what we’re supposed to do—and it certainly doesn’t make for good headlines, or a shocking front-page picture. But both families hit major bumps in the road and were in desperate need of help. Both families are positive contributors to the community. And both families greatly desire to better their situations. A few bags of food is hardly giving away the bank, but it does ease the grocery bill for a week or two, enabling them to keep the doors on as they land on the other side of the rut.
This, to me, is an excellent use of money; although it won’t bring in loads of fresh revenue. But it does give a return on your investment.
July 15th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
Great. We often times do the same type of thing. Like you said does not make for great fund raising stories, but I have to agree it is a great way to spend money.
July 20th, 2007 at 9:56 am
So true, when we reach out to those that are struggling to better themselves and they are the poorest, we are applauded and our chests are full of donations. But, when those same people are getting out of the “poor” category and hit a bump, we can’t help them because our contributors will balk. I applaud you for helping those families. Many times, they are in greater need because they have been clawing their way out of the cycle of poverty and are showing their children (the next generation of poor) that it can be done. But, when they hit a major set back, time after time, the children are taught that it is a futile battle and never attempt the climb. Blessings on your ministry in Mexico.
July 20th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Interesting thoughts. I think some people will just never want anything differently than the way it is for them, but maybe some just don’t know that life could actually be different, or even have the access or desire to use resources to help change their lives. I don’t know.
July 22nd, 2007 at 5:47 am
I like your post. It brings up a lot of thoughts and questions about working with poor people. One of the things I learned which is hard to understand is that it’s not that they want to be poor, it’s just that they have developed a mindset of poorness physically, emotionally and spiritually which makes it hard for them to even begin to imagine that their life could change. This is difficult for us to understand if we have never lived in abject poverty. But it is all the more important that we keep feeding them the word of God along with their daily bread. I think there will always be poor people in the world and that Christians are commanded to help them, not so much because the poor need help, but because the poor can teach us who are so blessed materially.
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:03 am
Cheryl–We’re in the middle of the “balk” right now with a similar/different issue. If anything exciting happens, I’ll definitely post the results.
toddh–I don’t know either; which is what I suppose Michelle is getting at…
Michelle–Thanks for your comment. A conversation like this gets real difficult real quick b/c wealth is completely relative to time/race/family and whatever else. There are middle class people in the States that if could only change their mindset, would rise to the upper class. But you speak about emotional and spiritual poverty. Those are so much more important than the material.
“The poor can teach us who are so blessed materially.” This is a tough one for me personally b/c Tijuana is pretty ghetto. It’s not “clean poor,” or “native/jungle poor.” (I’m sure I’m going to get some negative emails off those “titles.”) But it’s barrio, where people often portray more wealth than they have. They spend/waste money on junk. I suppose the same is true up north where everyone has two car loans. What a joke. I’m sure my perspective would be entirely different if I was in another place…
“…the word of God along with…daily bread.” Agreed. There has to be a balance.
July 24th, 2007 at 5:46 am
I know what you mean, I have been to Tijuana…..I think if people are trying to portray more wealth than they have, then that’s again a different mindset and type of poverty…..That is what I see in what is called, “the middle class” in Ukraine……They have a disposable income spent on superficial things….but I am talking about people with nothing…..like the street kids I work with who really don’t have anything…….God has taught me a lot from working with them.
July 24th, 2007 at 7:33 am
I came upon your blog today and found that you touch on a number of issues which are also relevant in my case. I am a missionary in Swaziland (have been for the past nearly 23 years and am also blogging about mission issues
A lot of my work is done among the poorest of the poor, mostly among people infected with HIV and AIDS. I think a number of the things you mention is due to Western influence. Our Western influence in the first place compels us to have good returns on our investment. Oh my goodness, how many times have I been asked by people in Western churches “How many people accepted Christ this past year?” when they are pastors in churches which most probably for many years have never seen a single person come to Christ! The same applies when we give something for missions (food, clothes, medicine) - we want to see that it really makes a HUGE difference, otherwise we don’t feel it’s worthwhile to give.
But the Western influence is also seen in many of these poor communities where they believe that, if they could have what the Western people have (usually in their minds they think of Americans, because that is what they mostly see on TV), then they will be happy. And I think that this is the reason why people who are just starting to get out of the poverty spiral seem to be using their money on items which we would regard as luxuries.
Just as a matter of interest, I heard someone speaking some time ago on the effects of poverty on communities in Africa and their research indicated that the greatest problem associated with poverty is a lack of dignity. I think this may also explain why money is often used on luxury items and not on things which we would consider as necessary, because these things will help them to regain a sense of dignity. I don’t know if this makes sense.
July 24th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Oops - forgot to mention my blog: http://missionissues.wordpress.com
July 25th, 2007 at 7:44 am
It does make sense, Arnau van Wyngaard. And I’m positive you have a lot more experience than I do dealing with all sides of the issue(s). I don’t think I’ve ever thought of poverty in the terms you wrote. Replacing their “lack of dignity” with “luxury items” is probably the start of a seminary thesis. I’ll have to think about this.
Thanks for posting your blog.
September 4th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Hi Ben. I came across your site today and I’ve enjoyed reading your thoughts. The issues surrounding money and missions are well worth exploring. I appreciate your honesty and willingness to bring up issues that few people want to. Thanks for diving in, and I look forward to future posts.