In the context of the upcoming elections, we had an interesting study and discussion last week in our Sunday school class about the role of government, the church and us individually in confronting poverty.

The instructor showed a video on how a divorcee with children was assisted by the government in getting back on her feet. The video then referenced the ancient Biblical admonition to the farmers that when they harvested their grain, they were to leave some of the grain in the field for the poor.

Translated into today’s life, that example is taken to mean that we share our money and goods with those less fortunate. An additional point made was that the poor did not simply receive a handout; they had to go into the fields and get what they needed, and could not expect to wait until it was brought to them.

In the discussion which followed, one man who works for a large global corporation related a few of the examples of how his company actively responds to the needs of people, saying that companies are made up of people, and people generally prefer to help others when the need arises and they have the means.

Another man in the class runs the food pantry for our church and he said that not only do people donate food and money, but the food stores also are very generous.

What type of recognition do they get for what they give? The response was: None, to which I added, when people come to the Herald for financial assistance, when we are in a position to help, we do, but we specifically turn down any recognition, because otherwise it would only strain limited resources.

A class member who had sat quietly, asked rhetorically, “How does this fit with what we are told, that the businesses are big, bad, selfish and greedy?” That question was not addressed in class, but I’ll offer here my opinion:

When the economy is not working, somebody is at fault. If the proponents of big government can persuade us that it is our capitalistic system, which is to blame, then they, themselves, are safe. But if people blame our ballooning government, which has grown from 8 percent of our economy to 40 percent in one century, then government has a problem hanging on to power.

So what is the solution to poverty? There is none, and never has been. As Christ said, “The poor will always be with you.” If ever larger government were the solution, one would think, that by giving them five times more of our money, all of their give-away programs would have fixed it.

Through us individually, through private agencies, churches and government, we must do all in our power to assist those in need to get on their feet, where possible. Where there is an opportunity for them, and they don’t take it, our obligation to them ends.

Art Hall, publisher