Poverty

What do poor people really need?

How do you define poor?

Is poor defined as needing

• food?
• possessions?
• ability?
• shelter?
• job?
• inheritance?
• religion?
• medical care?
• home?
• peace?
• alcohol?
• friends?
• protection?
• contentment?
• money?
• education?
• safety?
• family?
• drugs?
• worry?
• sanity?
• opportunity?
• clothes?
• entertainment?
• spirit?

How much defines a 'lack' of something?

What marks the boundary between poor and not poor?

What are the minimum things needed to not be poor?

Does the boundary depend on how much others have?

Is poverty a relative term based on the surrounding location?

Will people always want to be given more if others have more?

What can or should the government, church, community or person do to help the poor?  Is throwing money enough to eliminate poverty?   Is throwing money an easy way to feel good about solving poverty (especially if it is someone else's  money)?

"For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always." (John 12:8)

Consider the proverb " […] if you give a man a fish he is hungry again in an hour. If you teach him to catch a fish you do him a good turn. (Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie(1885) Mrs. Dymond source: https://en.wiktionary.org/ ).

Are food, shelter and opportunity the primary things that should be given to help reduce poverty?  What are the best ways for the government, church, community or person to help provide these things?

For the poor you will always have with you in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’" (Deut 15:7-11)