An insightful kid in Sunday school this week asked “If our money comes from God, then what about poor people?”

Good question. Here are some things to help us make sense of poverty:

a) God doesn’t owe anything to anyone. Everyone gets more than they deserve, which is instant judgment and death. The fact that they’re still alive, have families and the opportunity to be saved through Jesus – that’s already more than we deserve. (This should move us to great gratitide that we have received so much more than we deserve too)

b) The injustice is caused by us. Its true God chooses where we’ll be born, and so causes people to be born into poverty – but that poverty only exists as a result of sin (eg greed, lack of compassion). (This should convict us of our own sin & move us to repent)

c) It hurts God more than it hurts us. God cares about the poor. He loves them more than we do, and so it hurts Him more than it hurts us. (This should move us to worship God for his compassion)

Which leads us to ask – what has he done about it, and what will he do about it?

d) God has already done something about it. We’re sinful, so while ever we’re around and sinful, so will poverty. We can’t fix it alone. We need someone to take away sin. When Jesus died for sin, it purchased these remedies:
i) it meets the greatest need of poor people, which is not food or money but forgiveness (Mark 2:1-11)
ii) it allows us sinners to put sin to death, giving Christians strength and motivation to do something about poverty.
iii) it made the way for us to enter his ultimate plan:

e) The ultimate plan: what God will do about it. All things will be put right in the end. Those who have found forgiveness in Jesus will enjoy His company in heaven, where they will be healed: there will be no poverty, no tears, no death.
Those responsible for the injustice of poverty will receive what they deserve (unless Jesus paid for it in their place). Justice will be done and there will be healing.

f) Side note: in addition to being a result of sin, poverty exists to point us to the Cross. It cries out to both the rich and the poor that there is something wrong with the world. To the rich, it shows us the depth of our sin and our need for a Saviour. And, for the poor, it drives them to the Cross because they cannot put their hope anywhere else.
 
Ultimately, the answer to this question, and any question, is the gospel.

If you want to read about this more, grab a copy of If I Was God I’d End All the Pain (John Dickson) or, for something more meaty, How Long, O Lord (D. A. Carson).