Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The founding principles: The cause of poverty



1 Corinthians 3:11 "For on one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Christ Jesus."

What would happen if a man asked God how to be a better farmer? What if that same man went on to ask why Africa is the poorest continent and why it is getting poorer?

This is precisely what Brian Oldreive did. He discovered that the answers to these questions lay in the hearts and minds of men and women. He also found out that poverty is a result of destructive relationships between humans and between humans and the environment. Being a Christian, he found that the Bible sheds light on the source of this problem.

In the creation account in Genesis, we see God as a loving creator who delights in making the whole world. Man, represented by Adam and Eve, is the pinnacle of His creation. God gives one instruction: that they should not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or they will die. Eve knows this but Satan, being the great deceiver, entices her not to believe God thus setting the whole human race on a course towards destruction. Ultimately, Eve believes Satan over God and rebels, leading her to disobey the command. This disobedience leads to the destruction of every relationship - between God and humans, between man and woman, and between humans and the environment.

Being parents of the human race, Adam and Eve have set us all on this same course. Every one of us is bent towards disbelief and rebellion towards God and His word. Our disobedience affects every area of our lives and we can think of times when we have been selfish and caused pain to others, even our loved ones.
We don’t have to look too hard to find pain and destruction caused by human selfishness and a broken relationship with the land. Wars rage over resources and inequality is rife.

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