Which is generally more often to blame if a person is poor: lack of effort on their own part, or difficult circumstances beyond their control? Religion is a significant predictor of how Christians particularly (African Christians) perceive poverty.
Report Focus News asked Prophet Bruce Edwards the leader of Kingdom Empowerment Church (KEC) a prophetic church based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, to answer that question.
Indeed, Christians are much more likely than non-Christians to view poverty as the result of individual failings, particularly Africans that belong to Pentecostal and prophetic churches.
In response to this question the eloquent prophet Bruce Edwards responded by way of biblical teaching he said. “There’s a strong Christian impulse to understand poverty as deeply rooted in morality – often, as the Bible makes clear, in unwillingness to work, in bad financial decisions or in broken family structures.”
Prophet Bruce Edwards, expounded on this he said, “The Christian world view says that all poverty is due to sin, though that doesn’t necessarily mean the sin of the person in poverty. In the Garden of Eden, there would have been no poverty. In a fallen world, there is poverty.”
Poverty is a lack of money or material possessions. Poverty is usually accompanied by debt obligations to others. Debt, whether or not associated with poverty, is a form of slavery. As such, this is not God’s intention or will for His Children. In fact God does not want us to be slaves or to be in any form of bondage.
Therefore, it is only by following God’s principles that we free ourselves from such and break the hold of both poverty and debt.
One fundamental principle that I teach and share is that you must commit yourself, your finances, your family, and your life to Jesus Christ. Agree to live by God’s principles and seek to know what He has to say to you in your situation. Be honest about the faults and mistakes in your life, past and present, that may have caused your problems of debt and poverty. To escape trouble, you must know what put you there.
You must do everything you can to understand God’s principles. The bible says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Indeed, there are many Christians who have no concept whatsoever of the principles of God’s kingdom. They understand neither God’s laws dealing with material prosperity nor their own privileges as children of God. So, for lack of knowledge, they suffer.”
In response to the correlation between work and wealth Prophet Bruce Edwards said “one can work extremely hard, but, that work if not done in a smart way and in relation to God’s principles will not result in anything. There are a lot of poverty stricken people who work long and hard out there.”
“Of course, sometimes being poor is the result of bad choices. The Bible warns that laziness will lead to being poor: “A little sleep, a little slumber, / a little folding of the hands to rest— / and poverty will come on you like a thief / and scarcity like an armed man” (Proverbs 24:33–34; cf. 6:11). Following wild dreams will likewise lead to poverty: “Those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty” (Proverbs 28:19), as will failing to heed wise advice: “Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction” (Proverbs 13:18, ESV).”
But speaking of those who abide by the principles of God, scripture says,
“Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.” (Psalm 35:27)
We can see from this verse of Scripture that when God’s children prosper, He is pleased. We also can see from this Scripture that when God’s children do not prosper, He is grieved.
Have you ever heard it said, “Some people are destined to be rich. Others are destined to be poor. You have probably heard someone say ‘I guess I’m just destined to be poor.’ That is a lie that has been puked right up out of the bowels of Hell, if I may say so. It is not possible that God has destined some to be rich and some to be poor. It was never God’s will to have any of his children wallow in poverty.”
“The Bible reveals that God has slung into motion strict Spiritual Laws concerning poverty and prosperity. Human beings make those laws work for or against them. The Spiritual Laws of prosperity and poverty are as absolute as the Law of Gravity. It is up to us to come to an understanding of these laws in order to use them to bring the lost to Christ.”
“I once watched a Preacher interview a wealthy Christian businessman on television. Both of these men were in agreement that God destines some to have wealth and for the rest to struggle in poverty.
Of course, neither one of them had any Scripture to prove the foolishness of what they were espousing. This wealthy businessman was arrogantly boasting of how beautiful his life was since he became prosperous. He went on and on about himself and how he enjoys and deserves his prosperity. He never mentioned one word about why money comes. He just rambled on and on about how God did not desire to bless all people in the way God had blessed him.
This man’s reasoning was both unscriptural and selfish. Some wealthy people choose to believe the way that he does because it “excuses” them from having to use their money properly. It also places all the blame for the poverty in the world upon God, Who is guiltless. This is what the devil wants.
The devil wants people to believe that only a small handful of individuals are to prosper. He imposes this thinking upon the Body of Christ to stop them from praying for the finances to save the lost people of the world. It is vital that we reject these false notions, unscriptural teachings and demonic, prideful lies. God never intended for any of his children to wallow in poverty.”
Share your comments on the teachings and insights espoused by Prophet Bruce Edwards in the comments section below.