कति छिटै बुढेसकाल लागेछ!

बीस पच्चिस वर्षको जवान अवस्थामा जीवन लामो छ जस्तो लाग्छ। भविस्य आफ्नै वशमा रहेको भान हुन्छ र आफू भन्दा बीस-तीस वर्ष पाका मानिसलाई हेर्दा लाग्छ कि म त्यो उमेरमा पुग्दा त मैले के के नै गरिसकेको हुन्छु होला! हो पनि। समय, परिस्थिति र स्वास्थ्यले साथ दिएको खण्डमा बीस पच्चिस वर्षको अन्तरालमा भौतिक सफलताका धेरै तलाहरू चढीसकेका हुनसक्छौं। नेपला जस्तो गरीबदेशबाट विदेश जाने सपना भएकाहरू विश्वका विकसित देशका नागरिक बन्न सकेकोमा गर्व गरिरहेका हुनसक्छन्। शिक्षाका भोकाहरूले विद्वानको बिल्ला भिरेका हुनसक्छन्। धनका भोकाहरूले पुगीसरी कमाएका हुनसक्छन्। शक्तिका भोकाहरूले सत्ता हात पारेका हुनसक्छन्। ख्यातिका भोकाहरूले नाम कमाएका हुनसक्छन्। प्रेमका भोकाहरूले दाम्पत्य जीवन बसालेका हुनसक्छन्। सबै सपनाहरू साकार भएका हुनसक्छन्। आदि इत्यादि।

Is there a biblical solution to material poverty?

Everywhere I look, I see the horrifying effects of poverty. A child working at a construction site carrying bricks and sand. An old man pulling a three wheeler rickshaw with two overweight women sitting behind. A sick mother pulling herself to work in someone’s field because if she doesn’t, her children will have to sleep without food. A young man’s dream is shattered because he has to give up his studies in order to look after his ailing parents. A young girl is sold by the parents to a rich old man so that they can continue to live under his favor. List can go on…

Poverty takes away human dignity. Life becomes a meaningless struggle.

What kind of message can I preach to the poor? What does the gospel offer to them?