“… because I am poor.”

There’s this big, beautiful house that we pass by when we take a shortcut through one of the subdivisions here in the south. One time, I was driving and one of my passengers said out loud, “Malamang smuggler o drug lord ang nakatira dyan.” (Probably a smuggler or a drug lord lives there.)

I feel bad for whoever owns that property because I know at least one person who passed judgement on them. What if they are actually honest business people? What if they work really hard for what they have now?

During the second installment of our Feast financial literacy series, Money Pakyaw, Bro Yo Martinez’s talk on Prosperity touched on a negative trait most Filipinos have: “the poverty mindset.”

Because of this character flaw, Pinoys think that it is God’s will for them to be poor. And that to even desire to become rich is wrong. Their favorite bible passage is Matthew 5:3… Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

These people will often use their poverty as an excuse for all sorts of things --- for rude behavior (like judging others), for allowing life’s opportunities to pass them by, for not being a blessing to others, for escaping responsibilities, even for breaking the law.

The truth is that poverty is something to strive to get out of. Think of it like a hurdle or as a challenge that must be overcome.

It’s sad when people give up against poverty. It’s as if they already see it as a way of life. What’s worse is when people who choose to be poor band together to bash those who are well off.

Yes, Jesus came to give relief to the poor, the sick, and the less fortunate. But I’m certain that He didn’t want them begging, being chronically sick, or just settling for crumbs for the rest of their lives, which is what the poverty mindset eventually leads one to.

We are tasked to make our lives better. To use our talents to bless others is one of the best ways to show our appreciation to God.

When Our Lord healed the crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda, He told him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” In my mind, that once-disabled man was healed so that he could in turn, start helping others. He was healed so that he could find decent work. He was healed so that he could join Jesus’ ministry.

We should remember that while God’s plan is for us to have abundant lives, our blessings should ultimately be used to bless others.