So how do I deal with poverty in my own life? - Poverty - TouchPoints

Philippians 4:10-14How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

1 Timothy 6:6-10True godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

Whatever our experience of poverty, we should look at our present circumstances as Paul did his, as an opportunity to learn contentment. Paul discovered that contentment can be a default attitude in our lives no matter what our circumstances. If we believe we can experience contentment only after our circumstances improve, then we will likely never experience contentment. Since contentment ultimately flows out of our relationship with God, it is possible to be content whether we have less than enough, just barely enough, or more than enough.