WHAT IS POVERTY?

This morning I downloaded this book in pdf form, appropriately for free.
It made me think about a time when I offered to give a homeless guy money. However, after striking up a conversation with him I learned he had advanced college degrees and chose to be homeless. 

With so many countries crashing economically these days, poverty is on the rise. What do we do about those in need? I'm not sure, but I've actually added "research poverty" on my to do list. Here's some things I've found so far. 

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"Over sixty thousand of the financially poor throughout the developing world were asked how they described poverty. It was interesting that those in poverty didn’t focus on their material need." 

1. Poverty is an empty heart.
2. Not knowing your abilities and strengths.
3. Not being able to make progress.
4. Isolation.
5. No hope or belief in yourself. Knowing you can’t take care of your family.
6. Broken relationships.
7. Not knowing God.
8. Not having basic things to eat. Not having money.
9. Poverty is a consequence of not sharing.
10. Lack of good thoughts.

Also referenced "Toxic Charity" by author Bob Lupton. In this book, Bob details the negative cycle of giving related to traditional charity.

1. Give once and you elicit appreciation;2. Give twice and you create anticipation;3. Give three times and you create expectation;4. Give four times and it becomes entitlement;5. Give five times and you establish dependency.

"Even when offered with compassion, traditional charity, which should be only a temporary fix, can often enslave individuals—becoming a poverty trap—if extended into the long term. Charity cheats them of using their God-given abilities and talents. The church is beginning to recognize the pitfalls of traditional charity and rediscover an alternative way of helping."

Not sure how "alternative ways" are working, but plan to find out.