Defining "Poverty."

What's your personal definition of poverty? What makes a person "poor"? Or on the flip side, what does it mean to be "rich"?

I wanted to write another question but I forgot what it was.

Hope in Jesus..!

Unrelated to Genesis or Exodus or Leviticus.... but I read Isaiah 9 and it's EPIC O.O I just can't explain how mindblowing I find it. Here's the first 7 verses from the ESV version...

^{1 [a]} But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.^[b]

^{2 [c]} The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,
on them has light shone.
³ You have multiplied the nation;
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
⁴ For the yoke of his burden,
and the staff for his shoulder,
the rod of his oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
⁵ For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
and every garment rolled in blood
will be burned as fuel for the fire.
⁶ For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon^[d] his shoulder,
and his name shall be called^[e]
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

I am reminded that the hope is in CHRIST and this passage just really speaks to my social justice heart. There is hope in Jesus alone for the unreached/people in "darkness," hope for the oppressed, those at war, those countries with unstable or corrupt governments. Jesus is the true King and he reigns with JUSTICE and with righteousness. I am also reminded that our hope cannot be in the world or in people to solve these huge and often overwhelming issues since we are all tainted by sin... but our hope has to be in Christ alone. And then somehow we go out as his hands and feet, with his agenda and purposes that are so much higher than our own, and he somehow uses that. O_o ohmygoodness!

Question...

I'm only up to Genesis 12 with this lens as of now... but one thing I was wondering is, is it legit to say that God did not create the world to have poverty in it? It's not like it's in the creation account but also not explicitly stated or anything...

Thanksgiving!

In reflection, there is sooooo much to be thankful for, even in just this year alone. Above all else though, I am soooooo thankful for my relationship with Jesus. Coming from a non-Christian family, there really is no reason I should have been called out by God. The odds were saying that I shouldn't have become a Christ-follower, but by His grace and His crazy pursuit after me, here I am, saved and redeemed, by Jesus alone!

I realize day in and day out that we are the ones who are poor without Jesus... so thank you, Jesus, for giving your life for us on the cross, that we may have life to the full and have eternal life with you.

I pray for this study, that we may be in pursuit of and experience your amazing heart for the poor, O God. They are precious to you and you love them so much. And we want to be more like you and reflect more of your heart to this world. We love you.