Help for the Homeless and the Poor

WHEN HOMELESSNESS WILL BE NO MORE

Jeremiah, an ancient servant of God, lived through a time of great distress.  A cruel enemy invaded his homeland and took many of his people into exile and slavery.  (Lamentations 1:3) Although  spared, Jeremiah lost virtually everything he owned. In grief, he prayed:  "Remember my affliction and my homeless state." -Lamentations 3:19. 

Despite his sufferings, Jeremiah did not cave in to despair. Why? For one thing, he knew that Jehovah would not abandon him. (Jeremiah 1:8) For another, he was a student of the Scriptures, which tell of a time when poverty and suffering will cease to exist and will be replace by true peace and security. -Psalm 37:10, 11. 

Those conditions will come about, not by human efforts, but  by means of a perfect government called God's Kingdom.  (Daniel 7:13, 14) The King of that Kingdom is none other than Jesus Christ, who displayed a  great compassion for the poor when he was on earth as a man.  (Luke 7:22l 14:13)  Under his rule, "the righteous will flourish, and peace will abound . . .He will rescue the poor who cry for help, also the lowly one and whoever has not helper. From oppression and from violence he will rescue them." -Psalm 72L7, 12, 14. 

Jesus  made God's Kingdom the focus of his teaching.  (Luke 4:43) He even taught people to pray:  "Let your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:9, 10) What will life on earth be like when God's Kingdom is in full control?  The Bible gives us appealing previews. For example, it says of the subjects of God's Kingdom: 
* "They will build houses and live in them, and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruitage. They will not build for someone else to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat. . . .The work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full." -Isaiah 65:21. 22. 

* "They will sit, each one under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the mouth of Jehovah of armies has spoken." -Micah 4"4. 

That sure hope can buoy us up during our trials. At the same time, Bible principles can help us to live meaningful and satisfying lives even now, as joe, Martin, and many others have discovered indeed, our Creator, Jehovah God, give sus this guarantee:  "The one listening to me will dwell in security and be undisturbed by the dread of calamity." (Proverbs 1:33) May those words prove to be true in your life!

PRINCIPLES THAT CAN IMPROVE ECONOMIC SECURITY

Avoid unnecessary debt: "The borrower is a slave to the lender." -Proverbs 22:7. 

Beware of get-rich-schemes.  "The naive person believes every word, but the shrewd  one ponders each step." -Proverbs 14:15; 22:26, 27. 

Be a diligent worker.  "The lazy person has his cravings, yet he has nothing, but the diligent one will be fully satisfied." -Proverbs 13:4.

Exercise self-control.   "A drunkard and a glutton will come to poverty." -Proverbs 23:21. 

Have a balanced outlook. "Give me neither poverty nor riches." -Proverbs 30:8, 9. 

Be generous, not stingy.  "The  generous person will prosper." -Proverbs 11:25. 

Next time: HELP FOR THE FAMILY / PARENTING -TEACHING CHILDREN TO OBEY

From the AWAKE! magazine, 2015