One of the foundational truths we must assimilate into our minds if we are to prosper is that poverty is a curse.
Poverty is not a teaching tool of God, it is not a vow we should take, it is not a blessing-in-disguise. It is a curse. It is a negative thing, it is evil, it causes grief and pain. Poverty is not and never will be a good thing.
Let’s look at a few Bible verses on poverty, starting with Proverbs 6.10-11:
10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
Here the Word of God likens poverty to an armed man (an armed robber according to the NLT). This is how Scripture sees poverty: like a thief. Does that remind you of another Scripture perhaps: The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy (John 10.10, AMP). Poverty and the devil are parallelled in these two Scriptures. Get this into your spirit by thinking about it and meditating on it: poverty aligned with the devil. Poverty is not good. Taking a vow of poverty is not a good idea, it is a foolish idea!
Proverbs 10.15 says the destruction of the poor is their poverty. Poverty is a destroyer. Remind you of anyone? Poverty is from the devil! If you look through Deut. 28.15-68 you will find a list of curses. In there is never having enough, being hungry, being thirsty, not having a home, being naked. Poverty is always on the curse side. Look at Deut. 28.1-14 and you will find a list of blessings: having overflow, having more than enough, having choices you can make in life about what to wear and what to eat.
This is how you can know that Jesus Christ wants you wealthy: Galatians 3.13 says that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law. Do you realize this: God, in Jesus Christ, has completely redeemed you from poverty, from hunger, from thirst, from nakedness. You are blessed. You are able to live a great life. You need to start thinking this way.
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Cor. 8.9)
I will pen some more on how to live in wealth next month,
Blessings,
Ben
Tree of Life Blog 
God is great !! Awesome truth
This is an abomination, a wicked distortion of the Bible. Jesus said that the poor are blessed. That doesn’t mean it’s bad to be rich, but for you to say that poverty is a curse is shameful.
I didn’t say poverty is a curse. God did. Read Deuteronomy 28 and find out if prosperity is a blessing and poverty is a curse. If you think the Bible is shameful, then spiritual growth will be difficult for you. You need to change the way you think!
yes is true povetry is surely a curse. GOD HELP US
I am going to be teaching a 4 month series called WAR ON POVERTY starting this September. All the messages will be free online to listen and download!
the bible actually says blessed are the poor in spirit, not physical poverty. Mathew 5:3. these two are different. In Malachi 3:10-11 Gods says we should bring tithes into the storehouse so that there may be meat, and He promises to bless until there is no room to receive. In verse 11 He promises to rebuke the devourer for our sakes.So in short God the blesses and the devil devours period.
Poverty is not good, so God has given each of us as resources to others. Since poverty is not good, God does not want any Christian to suffer it, that’s. why we have to give to the poor and help the needy when we have, and they dont. This way there will be no poverty in the Church, and the enemy will be put to shame. Dont just think “I have to get out of poverty” also think ” I have to help others with the abundance that God has given me, so they can also be abundant” God gives us things so we can use them to serve each other; He gives us money, so we can use it to help one another and not waste it on selfish pleasures. Just remember that. If you see a fellow brother in need, do help them and your blessings shall increase.
Also, a lot of us are not poor, but since we are not millonaires or filthy rich, we think we are poor. No, as long as you have all you need, you are rich in the Lord because He promises to supply all our needs so we shall never want. If all your needs are met: you have food, clothes, shelter, then you are rich amd you have to try to help someone whose riches are being devoured by the enemy.
Of course its a two step process… You can’t help others financially unless you have something to help them with. And the more you have the more people you can help, so don’t set an upper limit on your prosperity.
Wow…I don’t know when I’ve read a more perverse interpretation of scripture … EVER.
God does give thru His children. He is the provider. I don’t have to be rich to qualify as a giver. Read Proverbs 19:17, then 21:13. Let’s look at the rich young ruler. The the “widows mite, the rich man and Lazarus. Come on…I’m not pro-poverty. In Matthew and Mark both, our Lord says “it’s easier for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom.” Wonder why…we are not to be tethered to the passing things of this temporary dwelling place. My final thought 1st Timothy 6:10-11, “For the love of money is the root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wondered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But flee from these things you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness.”
Rather than quote other Scriptures that I agree with, why not explain why my understanding of the verses I have mentioned is the most perverse you have ever encountered?
Grace and peace,
Ben
are those born from poor and needy families cursed yet they suffer the conditions of poverty a
No, you just inherit certain things from your parents. It was God’s plan to put us in families so all the Good mum and dad have flow into us, but sadly in many cases the devil has perverted this system so the bad on mum and dad passes into the children.
john wolfe is an idiot, jesus never said the poor are blessed, he said poor in spirit. if you knew hebrew you’d understand that idiom meant nothing about money. this hypocrite tells you god wants people poor but he uses a smart phone or a computer to tell you.
It always amazes me that most people who tell me wealth is evil and I shouldn’t preach prosperity earn more than me.
Spot on.
Matthew 13:23
But the seed sown on good soil is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and produces a crop–a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. Seed here can also mean sowing your time and money in a Bible based church.
Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
Proverbs 22:4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.
It’s not about the money at all. It’s about obedience, good stewardship and seeking the wisdom of God.
THE. RICH AND THE. POOR HAVE THIS. IN COMMON…IT IS GOD THAT MADE THEM ALL…PROVERBS 22:2
Good news is whatever your station in life, you can increase if you listen to and obey the Lord!
DID BIBLE SAID THAT POVERTY IS A CAUSE?
Yes, Deuteronomy 28.15-68 makes that very clear.
Sure,
Poverty is curse. We cannot make is something beautiful. For me accepting it as a good thing is shameful. I am Ethiopian and I know it better than most of the people in the world.
God bless you Ben. We have to fight badly. God is on our side. We (who believe that poverty is a curse) are conquerors because poverty is the enemy God +all people. Poverty with its source the devil on one side … Prosperity with its source God on the other side
I prefer to be on God side…
Nice post, Ben!
I can’t help but wonder, however:
What about the Christian who chooses never to marry, who’s content living on virtually nothing, and who’s still walking with God regardless? Do you think it’s a sin to adhere to extreme “minimalism” if it brings one peace and clarity?
Nic
It doesn’t matter to me or anyone what you live off. The issue is more money means you can help more people.
I agree with you. And for the comments–to be poor in spirit doesn’t mean our bank balance. It means we come empty to the Lord, we don’t have all the answers, we come as we are, full of sin and He is good and merciful and fills us up, forgives us and blesses us. That is why Jesus said the poor in spirit are blessed. They have no answers, no preconceived ideas, not telling God what to do. He can help you when you are like that. And the Love of money is what is the root of evil….not the money. You are right….how can we feed others with no food? How can we clothe others with no money or clothes to give? Thank you for your teaching. I’m looking forward to more.