It's hard to be TRULY poor in America. You have to work at it

But it's easier than ever to be envious ...

With all the USA welfare and Government subsidies, poverty in America is mostly a result of drug addiction, alcohol addiction, divorce, fatherless families, laziness and legitimate handicaps, not inequality or racism.

Here is a comment on "Income Inequality" by an online friend....  which I have adjusted and added scripture to. RB 

The trope about "income inequality" in America, is a nothingburger.  Literally.  Poor people historically didn't eat much meat, but had gardens and ate vegetables.  They lived in huts. They only had one or two changes of clothes.  They smelled bad, and couldn't afford lawyers. They all worked hard and were mostly laborers and sharecropers.  Rich people had horses and carriages, and fancy clothes, so you could tell they were rich.  They had doctors to bleed them when they got sick (true). They feasted on marbled (fat) beef , fried foods, and most overate on sweets. And, they had lawyers to defend them in court. They bathed once or twice a month. The men wore big hats and  boots, and the women wore big hats and bustle dresses.

Today rich and poor alike eat hamburgers and pizza. They both shower a few times a week--with soap, yet, and most use deodorant!  Both wear jeans.  They both have cars, cell phones, refrigerators, A/C, more than 4 or 5 sets of clothes, and washing machines.  They both have TVs and free school for their children and even school meals. The poor even have free lawyers, medical care, welfare and food stamps (cards), which the rich do not have.

 

True, the rich eat more lobster and drink more expensive wine, but the same beer and sodas. They often have fancier cars. Very rich people have airplanes and boats--stupid toys that cost a lot and don't get used much.  They have multiple homes--but use them one at a time.  Bill Gates tells us he lives in 3 or 4 rooms of his 30 room home.  Rich people do a lot of things I don't want to do anyway. And  sometimes they work very hard and often lose their money too.

 

It's hard to be truly poor in America.  You have to work at it.  But . . . it's easier than ever to be envious.  Especially of what the rich have, but don't really need that you want but don't need either. Riches usually cause more harm than good.

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That's why Jesus said,        "Be content with your wages." Lk.3:14

"And, having food and raiment, let us be therewith content." 1 Tim.6:8.

"But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts ... lie not against the truth.... For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." James 3:14&16

The verse,     "The love of money is the root of all evil"      is addressed to rich and poor alike. Percentage wise, there are more poor people loving and seeking after more money than rich people. A net worth of $464,100, considered wealthy, puts one in the top 10% of the world's population. There is as much "love of money" in the remaining 90% as there is in the top 10%. Loving it and having it are two different things.

So let us avoid envy and be thankful for what we have ... and we will enjoy more happiness and true love than wealth could ever buy. RB  

"And be content with such things as ye have: for HE hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Heb.13:5.

There is no commendation in wealth or condemnation in poverty. RB