Poverty is not simply an economic problem, and those living with little or no income may experience many other deprivations that compound their daily struggles to make ends meet.
The United Nations (UN) lists dangerous working conditions, unsafe housing, inadequate nutrition, unequal access to justice, lack of political power and limited access to health care.
The charity World Vision (with a focus on children) extends the list by adding increased risk of child mortality, lack of adequate education, poor sanitation, poor access to clean drinking water, electricity, and cooking fuel.
However, rather than getting depressed or angry at the current situation in the world, there’s a different way of looking at this, and that’s asking ourselves, ‘What does it actually mean to live a rich life?’ It’s a question that shifts our viewpoint away from money toward lifestyle, and attitude toward God and others.
There’s a Greek word, ‘eudaimonia’, promoted by the ancient philosophers which embraces well-being, happiness and flourishing in daily life. To the philosopher Aristotle, this meant ‘doing and living well’. And here perhaps we can see how Scripture might help our understanding.
The study is formatted such that each individual study can be printed off on 2 double-sided sheets of A4 for distribution to a group.
The four studies have enough material to keep a group going for an evening, looking at a range of temptations and problems which can cause Christians to struggle with their faith.
Introduction - Food for thought
1) Poverty - Life on the edge
2) Poverty - Spirit and soul
3) Riches - A life of plenty
4) Riches - A spiritual inheritance
Now available as a pdf to download
View a sample from the book (pdf) via
this link
©John Birch · Prayers written by the author may be copied freely for worship. If reproduced elsewhere please acknowledge author/website
Privacy Policy · Links · Author · Donate