The Link between Waste and Poverty

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

[There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. Proverbs Chapter 21 verse 20.

Squandering is a symptom and very clear indication of the fact that there is no indentified purpose that will multiply and compound resources; so the resources are squandered, no investments, no returns, poverty. The Bible describes wine bibing, gluttony which a number of people refer to as pleasure or enjoyment as means of impoverishment. Please see Proverbs Chapter 23 verses 20 to 21, 21 verse 17. The prodigal son for instance squandered every productive resource at his disposal. He frittered time, money, his body divine talent and ideas in non spiritually, physically, mentally, financially and materially rewarding activities which the Bible describes as riotous living. Please see Luke Chapter 15 verses 11 to 17.

At the end of the exercise, he was so impoverished that he came close to eating what he fed the pigs with; at a farm where he labored in vain. Please take note of the words he labored in vain. This is because what he earned was not a living wage. How do I know this? The Bible records in Luke Chapter 15 verses 14 to 16 that he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate. A living wage would have put good food on his table.

Secondly, to feed swine was a despicable job yet because the prodigal son was so impoverished, he accepted the job despite the fact that the job did not pay a living wage. A little attention to the details of managing productive processes to a profit as well as the practice in His father’s house would have saved the prodigal son the hunger pangs and indignity of what he suffered. Fortunately, he learnt his lessons well and returned to his father.

Unfortunately, this was not the case with the owner of the vineyard described in Proverbs Chapter 24 verses 30 to 34. The lazy man devoid of understanding like the prodigal son; he wasted every resource God blessed him with; which makes I believe anyone wonder how on earth he came about owning a vineyard. He probably inherited it though the Bible does not say so. But what is clear from the Bible is that he wasted precious time in ‘a little sleep, a little slumber and a little folding of the hands to rest’; all of which he did not need.

Unfortunately, time wasted in non productive and non-financially rewarding activities usually takes its toll on time wasting people.  In this case, this man’s wastefulness culminated in the loss of crops planted on the farm as the farm was overtaken by thorns and nettles; and its stone walls were broken down. Ultimately, his wastefulness led to the loss of both the plants and protective structures on the farm, in essence, loss of harvests and livelihoods.

Beloved, while other people were harvesting crops and ultimately money and wealth, Mr. Wasteful harvested thorns, nettles, broken down walls and poverty.  You may not be like Mr. Wasteful but is it just possible that you waste a little whether it is time, the utilization of your divine gifts to bless humanity? Whatever it is, please take a quality decision to multiply and compound resources so that you will always be a channel of blessing to humanity. Shalom.

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/olivesfamily

http://www.amazon.com/Uyoyou-Christiana-Charles-Iyoha/e/B00JLO15SM

http://olivescitychurch.churchonline.org/

https://olives-university.eduongo.com