With gas averaging $4.00 a gallon, middle class households may be pinched, but families below the poverty line are squeezed. Yet compare the plight of the poor in our country to the desperate situation of victims of chronic poverty resulting from war, famine, natural disasters and dictatorships. The order to help the poor in Matthew 25 is not to be taken lightly, even in bad economies.

The  Center for Global Development recently analyzed aid and economic growth in poor nations, concluding that foreign aid that rises above 8 percent of the gross domestic product of a country actually has a negative effect, causing stagnant growth and worse conditions for the poor. Their takeaway is that we should help, but not help too much.

People want to pull themselves out of poverty. It feels good to be able to earn a living. Perhaps some of the anger directed at the U.S. in third world countries can be traced to our “excessive” generosity? Already, there are many organizations that are dedicated to helping spread local solutions to poverty: It may not be Lent, but for the poor, it is always Lent. Those to whom much has been given, much is expected.

Kiva is a special program uniting first world donors with third world entrepreneurs. Click through to find the special person overseas waiting for your investment in their future.    www.kiva.org

Women for Women International works with women who have been victimized by war, helping them to rebuild their lives and become leaders in their communities. You can learn more about the needs of women in war-torn parts of the world. You can donate directly to the organization, or sponsor a woman, like Save the Children.  http://www.womenforwomen.org

 USCCB has a tour of life below the poverty line in our own country. See what the budget looks like to live below the poverty line in the U.S. http://www.usccb.org/cchd/povertyusa/tour.htm