Mother Teresa on poverty

Our life of poverty is as necessary as the work itself. Only in heaven will we see how much we owe to the poor for helping us to love God better because of them.

Mother Teresa on BrainyQuotes

Mother Teresa on poverty

We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.

Mother Teresa on BrainyQuote

Mother Teresa on poverty

It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish.

Mother Teresa quoted on BrainyQuotes

Take a chance

The chance is that you might go without for a short while if you give away your blanket; weigh this against the certainty that the other will continue in her suffering if you don't.

Eye contact

When you respond to a request, look the person in the eyes. This ensures that you know what you do.

A name

Start a relationship with the person you meet, ask him who he is. Even if you will never see him again, he will be somebody once you know his name.

God on poverty

However, there should be no poor among you, for in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess as your inheritance, he will richly bless you.

God in Deuteronomy (NIV)

God on poverty

If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you.

God in Leviticus (NIV)

God on poverty

Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.

God in Leviticus (NIV)

God on poverty

Do not show favouritism to poor man in his lawsuit.

God in Exodus (NIV)

God on poverty

Love your neighbour as yourself.

God in Leviticus (NIV)

Keep a stock

When you meet a need of your own, buy one extra so you have for someone in need.

Get an extra blanket

When you buy a blanket, get an extra - it is twice as cold when you are hungry.

Why serve them

Our desire to serve them must be the result of respect for an individual, as creative and worthy not as inferior and needy.

Michael Kaiser, Florida, USA

Person not poor

When you look at your neighbour, think of her as a person not poor; treat her like your mother, your daughter and your sister.

Together

Expect great contributions by the poor, ad your own sacrifices, make the change together.

Together

When you do something, don't do it for the poor; do it with him.

Dignity and Justice

Treat your neighbour as your equal and act justly. This will go a long ways towards bringing her out of poverty.

Remember the enemy

The fight is not against the poor or even against their oppressors. The fight is FOR freedom and dignity.

Celebrate each victory

Look for and celebrate every achievement made in the battle against poverty.

Agree on the action

Decide together what your friend can do; and on how you can best support her.

Confront the issue

Face the problem with your friend, talk about and against it together.

Name the problem

Think through and name the things you think keep your friend in poverty.

Ask the questions

Dare to ask your poor friend about the thing you think keeps him in poverty.

Celebrate the poor

Celebrate the poor - it will change the way you see them.

Celebrate the poor

Celebrate what is good in your poor neighbours - it will lift their spirits.

Imagine

Imagine what it would be like for the mother if she could feed her child.

Imagine

Imagine what it would be like to be the person you meet, to have her illness, his house or her lack of proper clothing.

Touch

Take the hand of the poor until you have felt the bones in his body and know how he feels.

Listen

Listen until you have heard the cry of the poor and know his need.

Look

Look to make sure you have truly seen the needs of the other.