Earthly Poverty

I want to help kids like this one...

To be at the poverty line in the United States, a family of four's annual income is $22,000.

The GDP per capita in Somalia (in 2008) was $600. That's the AVERAGE annual income!

>>six hundred dollars<<

That is $21,400 less than America's impoverished families.

How would you like earning less than $2 a day?

I don't want to sound rude, but some people spend double that much on a simple Starbucks drink every. single. day.

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It may be hard to swallow this next fact:

"The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me."

-Jesus (Mark 14:7)

It's hard for ME to swallow that verse. I'm glad I have a opportunity to "help them any time I want", but the first part of the verse is heartbreaking and discouraging. The poor will ALWAYS be with us. Without God's help it can feel overwhelming; there is nothing we can do to erase "poorness". Sometimes I wish the government knew this. They might stop trying to create that perfect formula that puts an end to poverty. It's good to help those in need, don't get me wrong, but I feel like companies/governments are overly optimistic about the future of wiping out poverty.

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We are able to go into the world and spread the good news, though. We are able to tell these people about a place that is full of riches, full of love, and full of perfection. And for us humans, this place doesn't cost a penny.

It is a gift.

When these people hear about a six star hotel, the best atmosphere, and the best Ruler is all for free (and able to be enjoyed forever), well,

they can either accept it or not. My thought is, if they are able to even fathom a place like heaven, they would accept it and become overjoyed. Because everything on this earth comes with a price tag: either money or time, it's hard to believe that we don't have to pay millions to stay a night or two. Heaven's ticket did come with a price tag though; thankfully, we mere humans didn't have to pay for it. We couldn't. We're not perfect. Jesus is. And He paid.

How can you look into his eyes and not feel compassionate?

I have a few goals regarding this topic. And when I don't particularly want to (or don't feel like it) all I have to do is remind myself of the rhetorical & silent question in my head:

What truly matters in this life? Think about it. What really matters?

Ok, so here are some goals:

1. Save, save, save up money and give it to the poor.

2. live and work at an orphanage (one of my dreams that I've had for a good amount of years now)

3. Be able to see smiles on these children's beautiful faces.