KCM Asia

oday, the percentage of people living in poverty in this nation is almost identical to what it was in the '60s because poverty isn't a financial problem. It's a spiritual problem. It can't be solved by politics or conquered by man- made programs. You can throw all the money you want at it and you won't get rid of it. In fact, you're likely to make it worse because the devil is the driving force behind it, and he uses money as leverage and power. He's figured out that if he can get people to look to something other than God to meet their needs (he doesn't care if it's welfare or Wall Street) he can control them...and control is what the devil is all about. at's the reason God doesn't want His people to be financially dependent on anything or anyone in this fallen world order. He doesn't want you looking to the government as the source of your prosperity. He doesn't want you looking to your rich Uncle Charlie. He doesn't even want you look ing to the company where you work. God wants you to be dependent only upon Him, because only He can set you free from the devil's control and prosper you— regardless of what's happening in the world's economy. My parents found this out in the 1930s during the Depression. The economy was miserable all over the nation back then, but in West Texas where they lived, it was particularly bad. In those days, West Texas was a hard place to make a living—even when times were good. The primary source of revenue was dirt farming and no one had any irrigation. Even a minor drought could cause major problems. So you can imagine what it was like from 1931 to 1941 when hardly any rain fell there at all. During those 10 years the Texas Panhandle, along with Ok lahoma and New Mexico, became the great Dust Bowl. Sandstorms got so bad that people died in them. eir lungs got full of dust and they couldn't breathe. If that wasn't enough, job opportunities—which had already been scarce—dried up as well and people left in droves. M a ma a nd D addy d id n't k n o w m u c h a b o u t d i v i n e prosperity in those days but they loved The LORD. They knew He was their Source, so in their wedding vows they committed to tithe on every dime they made for the rest of their lives. All through the Depression my dad was never without a job for more than a day. If one job played out, he and my mother would catch hands and pray for another one. "I'd stand at the door and watch him go down the road until he was completely out of sight," my mother told me. "Then I'd go about my chores all day just praising and worshiping God." Every time, in less than 24 hours my father would f ind employment. God would direct him, show him where to go and get him jobs—good ones— when there weren't any to be found. Ta l k about w inn ing a war on poverty! In the worst times the country has ever seen, while others were looking to the government or someone else in the world to meet their needs, my parents looked to God, kept tithing and were BLESSED. Keeping Poor People Poor "Well, Brother Copeland, I'm glad things worked out so well for your parents, but surely you don't think everyone should follow their example. Surely you're not suggesting that God wants people who are genuinely poor to be givers." No, I'm not suggesting it. I'm A P R I L ' 1 4 : B V O V : 5 aWAR T You can throw all the money you want at it and you won't get rid of it. In fact, you're likely to make it worse because the devil is the driving force behind it. poverty

• cover_April
• kenneth_April_new
• Back_April_new