Is poverty a sin?
Question:
What is poverty? And is poverty a sin?
Answer:
Poverty is the state of being poor. Neither wealth nor poverty is a sin, though people in either state can be tempted to sin. "Give me neither poverty nor riches - feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:8-9).
Sometimes people sin and gain wealth in the process. "Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich" (Proverbs 28:6).
Sometimes people sin and become poor. "How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep -- so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man" (Proverbs 6:9-11).
Therefore the economic state of a person does not reflect his moral state.