CHRISTIANS APPROACHES TO WEALTH, MONEY AND POVERTY

CHRISTIANS APPROACHES TO WEALTH, MONEY AND POVERTY

Learning Outcomes: By the end of this topic, you should be able to: –

  1. Define the concepts wealth, money and poverty
  • Explain and appreciate the traditional African understanding of wealth and poverty
  • Describe the impact of the introduction of money economy in the traditional African society.
  • Explain Christian teachings on money, wealth and poverty
  • Discuss Christians approached to some issues related to wealth money and poverty
  • Uphold the Christian principles in acquiring and using wealth

LESSON ONE: DEFINITION OF THE CONCEPTS WEALTH, MONEY AND POVERTY

a) Wealth: – accumulation…

Accumulation of materials owned by an individual, family or a group of people; Wealth is property that has economic value e.g. land, animals, money, valuable possessions such as jewellery, commercial and residential buildings etc.

Ways of acquiring wealth

Inheritance

  •   Business
  • Commercial farming
  • Salaried Jobs
  • Investment of money in financial institution
  • Provision of commercial services

b) Money

It’s the medium of exchange that functions as a legal tender. It is something that is generally accepted as a medium of exchange, a means of payment. It is usually in form of coins or notes. Good monetary media (money) has certain qualities.

Qualities of money

  • It should be acceptable
  • It should be fairly stable
  • Easy to divide into small units
  • Easy to carry
  • Should be relatively scarce
  • It should be durable
  • Its value should be maintained through proper control of its circulations

Money is a measure of wealth. What it can purchase is the value. Money is used to buy services, goods, pay debts etc.

Examples of currencies in the world are

Ksh. (Kenya), Rand (South Africa) US & Dollar, Pound (Britain) Euro (Europe), Yen (Japan) Etc

c) Poverty

State of being without adequate basic necessities of life e.g. food, shelter, clothing

It’s a state of helplessness. It is characterized by poor health, hunger, and lack of education facilities, uncared for environment.

Causes of poverty

  1. Adverse climatic conditions (Geographical factors)
  • Poor family background (historical and social factors)
  • Political stability leading to civil wars
  • Poor governance
  • Regional imbalance of natural resources
  • Low level of technology
  • Laziness
  • Over dependence on foreign aid

LESSON TWO: THE TRADITIONAL AFRICAN UNDERSTANDING OF WEALTH AND POVERTY

 Learning outcomes:  By the end of the lesson you should be able to: –

  1. Define the terms wealth and poverty according to the traditional African understanding
  • State the various ways in which wealth was acquired in traditional African communities
  • List the causes of poverty in tradition African communities

Wealth

In African traditional societies wealth was measured in terms of the amount of land, livestock, grains, wives, children possessed by an individual or the community.

Wealth was acquired in various ways.

(i) As a gift from God

Most Africans believe that wealth is a blessing from God.

(ii) Inheritance

In cases where the head of the family is dead, the eldest son becomes the custodian of the estate. The clan and community elders give direction on how the wealth is to be shared out.

  • Bride wealth
  • Farming
  • Exploitation of natural resources – honey, wood for carving, building materials etc
  • Trade

African communities were involved in barter trade where they exchanged good and services (vii) Raids – wealth was also acquired by raiding other communities – goats, sheep, Cattle.

  • People were encouraged to work hard to acquire wealthy honesty
  • Wealthy people were highly regarded and were considered for leadership position
  • Wealth was incomplete without a family

Poverty

Poverty was viewed as punishment or curse for wrongdoing.

Other causes of poverty according to African Traditional Society were: –

  • Laziness
  • Lack of inheritance
  • Raids by other communities
  • Famine
  • Natural calamities
  • Sickness – rendering the individual weak to acquire wealth
  • – In acquiring wealth, principles such as value for human life, mutual responsibility, and sharing, communal ownership were emphasized.
  • Places that were communal include grazing land, rivers, and watering places
  • Laziness was ridiculed through songs, riddles and proverbs.

LESSON THREE: IMPACTS OF THE INTRODUCTION OF MONEY ECONOMY IN TRADITIONAL AFRICAN SOCIETY

Learning outcomes:  By the end of the lesson you should be able to: –

  1. Define economy, development and money economy
  • Explain the reasons for the introduction of money
  • Explain the impact of money economy in traditional African society

Introduction

  • Money was introduced to Africa by the Europeans
  • Before colonial period, Africans practiced barter trade – actual goods exchanged with other goods e.g. animals would be exchanged with food grains, millet, sorghum, cowpeas, children exchanged for food during famine.
  • Trade merchants from Asia had introduced into Africa forms of currency such as the cowrie shells, gold and the Indian rupees. Europeans introduced currency still used today

Economy: – careful management of resources, finances, income and expenditure of a family, a business enterprise, community or a country. The economy of a country is to be well managed if it has the ability to meet the social economic needs of her members.

Development – It’s measured by the health of its economy in the provision of health, education, housing, sanitation, employment, longevity of life, decrease of material and child mortality.

Money economy: – Use of money as a means of exchange in economic activities e.g. banking, investment, insurance, payment of goods and services.

Reasons for money introduction

  1. Colonization brought a lot of changes such as unoccupied land declared ‘Crown land’ for colonialists.
  • Tax introduction

Africans were supposed to pay taxes to the government. Taxes were paid in form of money.

3) Introduction of formal education

A school fee was introduced. Fees were paid in form of money.

  • Introduction of modern medical services People paid medical services using money.
  • Emergence of new lifestyles

Converts to Christianity were emphasized on to have materials, hence had to work to improve their living standards. They built houses, took their children to schools practiced modern family techniques hence had to use money.

Impact of the introduction of money economy in traditional African society

  1. Introduction of wage – labour
  • Break up of family ties as people migrated from rural to urban areas in search of employment
  • African land taken by the colonialists, reducing people to squatters hence need to work
  • There was creation of a gap between people – the rich and the poor
  • Emergence of vices e.g. corruption, bribery, prostitution, robbery
  • Deterioration of cherished African values e.g. bride wealth has become commercialized, customs lost etc.
  • Loss of African human dignity. Africans had to pay taxes to the colonial government. They were forced to work in European farms so as to get money. They worked under dehumanizing conditions

Production of traditional food crops declined replaced by cash crops.

  • Individual ownership of land was emphasized. Land could be sold at will
  1. There was increase of rural – urban migration leaving the rural people less educated.
  1. Exploitation of the poor by the rich – poor wages, overcharging prices on foods.
  1. Destruction of the natural environment to create room for building projects, urban centres
  1. The cost of living increased. Almost everything is acquired by money.

LESSON FOUR: THE CHRISTIAN TEACHING ON WEALTH, MONEY, POVERTY

Learning outcomes:  By the end of the lesson you should be able to: –

  1. Explain the Christian teachings on wealth
  • Explain the Christian teachings on poverty

 

Teaching on wealth

  1. Wealth is a blessing from God
  • Those who obey God’s laws, teachings of the prophets are promised blessings by God Deut28: 1 – 4
  • Wealth has duties associated with it e.g. 10% tithe, alms to the poor, and an aspect of stewardship.
  • Wealth should be used wisely. People are not owners of their property but are stewards. Should share with the poor, needy.
  • Wealth is not permanent e.g. parable of the rich fool. When people die, they take nothing with them. Naked into the world, naked out of the world. Job. 1:21
  • Wealth can create a false sense of independence feeling of self reliance no need for God
  • Wealth should be obtained justly – no happiness for a person who gets riches in the wrong way.

8) Wrong attitude to wealth can lead to idolatry and other dangers. Matt.19: 23 – 24 danger of materialism – making riches their God, the love of money is the root of all evil (1 timothy 6:10)

  • It is wrong to discriminate against others on the basis of material possessions. Jesus associated with the rich, the poor, the sick etc.
  1. Seek spiritual wealth, which is permanent and more fulfilling than material wealth, which is transitory – temporal. Matt 6:19 – 20)
  1. Acknowledge God as the source of ones riches
  1. Use wealth to help the needy
  1. Wealth is an instrument to enable us live decently.
  1. Obsession with money and wealth leads to sin
  1. Church leaders should avoid greed for wealth (1 Timothy 3:3)
  1. God will judge rich exploiters.

Christian teaching on poverty

  1. Christian teachings discourage irresponsible behaviour and habits e.g. laziness, idleness and negligence. Some people became poor because of such.
  • Some people become poor because of misfortunes
  • Others are poor because of judgment due to disobedience to God
  • God cares for the poor
  • Those with more should share with the poor
  • People should work to alleviate poverty in the society
  • Jesus helped the poor so should we

The poor in spirit will be blessed

LESSON FIVE: CHRISTIAN APPROACHES / RESPONSE TO ISSUES RELATED TO WEALTH AND MONEY.

Learning outcomes:  By the end of the lesson you should be able to: –

  1. Describe the Christian’s response towards wealth and poverty
  • State the factors causing poverty
  • Describe how wealth/ resources can be distributed fairly

Christian can respond by

  1. Insistence on fair distribution of wealth
  • Fighting against bribery and corruption
  • Using life skills

D. Practicing Christian values

Introduction

  • Affluence – having a lot of material possessions and a luxurious standard of living. Poverty is a state of lack of the basic necessities.
  • Illegal means of acquiring wealth include fraud, grabbing public land, selling narcotic drugs etc

Factors that have contributed to poverty

  1. Political instability
  • Lack of formal education
  • Laziness
  • Negative attitude towards work – choosing jobs
  • Historical factors – colonization lack of land
  • Exporting unprocessed agricultural products cheaply then sold back expensively.

A. Fair distribution of wealth / resources

  1. Christians to promote the value of justice, fairness, social responsibility. How? By having anti – corruption crusades, be role models, teach or import skills, advocate for cancellation of foreign debts, taxation to all etc.
  • Fair salaries
  • Promotion of affordable and decent housing
  • Favourable terms of loans
  • Encourage Jua Kali artisans
  • Christians to demand transformation of society through implementation of just economic policies that can ensure fair distribution of wealth.
  • Encourage foreign investors through good infrastructure, incentives e.g. shorter process to register business, security.

h) Christian to encourage investments by churches and inculcate in people the values of hard work, proper time management free education free health care for the poor or needy.

Fair distribution of wealth / resources refers to jobs, infrastructure, hospitals, water, agricultural products etc.

LESSON SIX: BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Learning outcomes:  By the end of the lesson you should be able to: –

  1. Define the following terms bribery and corruption
  • Explain the factors that contribute to bribery and corruption
  • Explain the consequences of bribery and corruption

Fighting against bribery and corruption Bribery and corruption are related terms.

Corruption: – practice of giving a bribe in the form of money, goods or privileges in return for a service.

Bribery: – act of giving money, material goods or services to someone to influence the recipient to give underserved favour.

It is aimed at influencing a decision to favour. Bribery is a form of corruption.

  • Corruption is some kind of moral degeneration. A practice whereby someone uses his/her influence in an activity that is not morally acceptable.
  • Example of corruption include promotion by a senior for a favour, colluding to miss work, use of government vehicles to attend to personal matters.

In Kenya, Kenya Anticorruption commission KACC is a national body formed to fight corruption.

Factors leading to bribery and corruption

  1. Un-employment – one will bribe to secure employment
  2. Greed for money – caused by peer pressure, poor moral values, wrong ethical foundation about money etc.
  • Fear – fear of being imprisoned
  • Ignorance – giving bribes in form of gifts
  • Disintegration of traditional African values
  • Lack of moral integrity – no Christian values, one having no spiritual basis
  • Frustration in the place of work
  • A perverted conscience

Consequences of corruption and bribery

  1. Leads to injustice
  • Leads to incompetent supplies of goods or services being awarded hefty contracts – leads to poor services e.g. road construction
  • Poor infrastructure, poor public service delivery
  • Leads to undermining moral fabric of society – leading to social hopelessness and despair
  • Has led to lack of trust in public servants, and the government
  • Discontentment among people.
  • Degrades the personality of an individual
  • Can lead to imprisonment and lose of job

LESSON SEVEN: CHRISTIAN ATTITUDE TOWARDS BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION

Learning outcomes: By the end of the lesson you should be able to: –

  1. Describe the Christian attitude towards bribery and corruption
  • Define the following terms life skills, decision making, critical thinking, creative thinking, self esteem and assertiveness
  • List the steps involved in decision making
  1. It is condemned as an evil practice (a social evil) Ex. 23:8
  • Bribes cause injustice proverbs 17:23
  • Seen as morally wrong as they negatively affect one’s family
  • Jesus drove out merchants from the temple. They had started exploitation of the poor.
  • Condemned because it degrades the personality of an individual
  • Amos condemned taking and giving of bribes
  • Bribes blinds the eyes

In the parable of John the Baptist condemned soldiers from taking bribes

Corrupt judge and the widow, corruption is condemned

  • Christians are to live righteously and not give bribes or receive. They are the light of the world.
  • Money gained from corruption is not acceptable before God.

C Using life skills

Life skills are abilities, which enable a person to face the challenges of life in an effective way they are

  • Decision making
  • Critical thinking
  • Creative thinking
  • Self esteem
  • Assertiveness

a. Decision making

Process of identifying the best alternative to overcome a challenge encountered. Often decisions we make do not only affect us but those around us.

Steps to decision – making

1. Identify the challenge (problem)

What’s the problem? What is bothering you?

  • Understand the challenge / problem: – What is really bothering you?
  • Find out possible solutions
  • Find out the possible options and alternatives
  • Consider the possible consequences for each option
  • Select the best option
  • Implement
  • Evaluate the outcome of the action

b. Critical thinking

 Ability to examine and assess a given situation impartially or objectively;  It involves reasoning carefully. Getting detailed information, consider the option before making a decision. Critical thinking makes a person responsible for their actions.

c. Creative thinking

This is the act or practice of using ideas imaginatively to solve a problem

d. Self-esteem

  • This is the regard one has about himself or herself. Self-esteem can be low or high, positive or negative. A positive or high self-esteem person has confidence, is outgoing, social, appreciates self, realistic and independent.
  • A person with low, negative self-esteem is naïve, withdrawn, shy, feels inadequate, and no self-confidence.

e. Assertiveness

Ability to express ones feelings and wishes without hurting others; Assertive people are confident; direct in dealing with others assertive people have a high self-esteem.

LESSON EIGHT: CHRISTIAN VALUES RELATED TO WEALTH, MONEY, AND POVERTY.

Learning outcomes:  By the end of the lesson you should be able to: –

  1. Define the terms, values, love. Honesty, reliability, fairness, justice, respect, humility, faithfulness, persistence and chastity
  • State the values related to work

Values – Beliefs, which guide people on what is right and wrong. There are

  • Social values
  • Cultural values
  • Moral values

Values related to wealth are: –

  • Love
  • Honesty
  • Reliability
  • Fairness
  • Justice
  • Respect
  • Faithfulness
  • Humility
  • Persistence
  • Chastity

Love – intense emotion of attachment, affection, warmth, fondness, regard for a person or something how should love guide a Christian in relation to wealth creation?

Honesty – quality of being truthful, fair trustworthy, sincere, genuine. The opposite of honesty is dishonesty.

Reliability – being dependable, faithful, predictable, unfailing. The ability of being relied upon and keeping promises

Fairness – condition of being unbiased, free from discrimination.

Justice – fair dealings with the people, as they deserve according to the law. Being fair, giving people what’s due to them. Opposite of justice is injustice.

Respect – Quality of having high regard for somebody or something.

 Politeness – It’s important to respect other people’s property.

Humility – quality of not thinking that you are better than others. Being humble; Opposite of humility is pride, being proud. Those who humble themselves shall be exalted.

Faithfulness – quality of remaining loyal or true to someone. Christians should be faithful at their places of work and in allocating their wealth to God’s work.

Those who are entrusted with public resources to manage on behalf of the people should show a high degree of faithfulness.

Persistence – quality to persevere. Quality to continue steadfastly, unrelentingly despite opposition e.g. the unjust judge and widow, job =, Jeremiah are people who persisted.

Chastity – a state of being pure, holy, innocent modest. It is abstinence from actions that may make one impure before God.

-Christians should strive hard not to defile their bodies in search of wealth

-Christians should strive to live holy lives, avoid prostitution, drug abuse; corruption -people use sexual favour to get jobs or promotion. Christians should thus avoid such.

Revision questions

  1. Explain the biblical teaching on wealth
  • Discuss the biblical teaching on acquisition and use of wealth
  • Explain ways in which people misuse wealth in Kenya today
  • Show how misuse of wealth leads to family instability
  • Give ways in which the Kenyan government is alleviating the high levels of poverty
  • State the factors that have contributed to high levels of poverty in Kenya today

Revision questions

1.    1991 Q 2b,c

       b) State the teaching of Jesus on wealth

       c) Explain ways in which people misuse their wealth in society today

2.    1994 Q 4b, c

        b)  Give reasons why missionaries started schools

        c)  How does the church in Kenya use mass media to educate Kenyans?

3.    1995 Q 38

       Give five reasons why it is important for a family to discuss its budget.

4.    1996 Q 18

        State five factors which hinder Christians in Kenya from helping the needy (5marks)

5.    1997 Q 18

        Suggest five ways in which the Church in Kenya could help street children. (5marks)

6.    2001 Q 19

        State five ways through which Christians show love to famine sticken people            (5marks)

7.    2003 Q 19

        Give five reasons why Christians take up insurance policies.                          (5marks)       

8.     2003 Q 2c (pp 2)

        c) How should a Christian respond when offered a bribe?                                (6marks)

9.    2005 Q 3c (pp 2)

       (c) Why do some Christians find it difficult to share their wealth with others? (6 marks)

10.   2005 Q 6c (pp 2)

  • Outline the steps the church is taking to reduce poverty in Kenya today.        (7 marks)

11.   2007 Q 6a (pp 2)

        (a)     Explain how unfair distribution of wealth can lead to social disorder in

                  Kenya today                                                                                              (8 marks)

12.    2009 Q 6

         a) Explain four negative effects of the introduction of money economy on traditional African communities.                                                                                     (8 marks)

        b) Outline six teachings of Jesus on wealth.                                         (6 marks)

        c) Give six reasons why Christians should not involve themselves gambling.  (6 marks)

13.   2010 Q 4c

       (c)  Give six reasons why Christians find it difficult to help the needy in society today.                                                                                                             (6 marks)

14.    2011 Q 4c (pp 2)

        State seven reasons why some Christians find it difficult to help the sick      (7 marks)

15.     2012 Q6a, 6c P2

      (a) Outline the traditional African concept of wealth.                                   (6 marks)

(c)  Explain six ways the church is using to eradicate poverty in Kenya today.  

 (6 marks)

Answers

1991 Q2b, c

  • Wealth should be worked for
  • It is a gift from God
  • Should be shared with the poor
  • Can prevent people from worshipping God
  • It is not permanent (rich fool)
  • He should use wealth to get external life
  • spreading the gospel

c)

  • Bribe for position or obtain something
  • Bribe to escape punishment
  • Use money to kill enemies, old people using money to reduce the young
  • Prostitution
  • Extravagant – buying two cars
  • Buying dangerous weapons
  • oppressing the poor
  • exploitation
  • Gambling.

1994 Q4 b, c

  • To use them as means of evangelizing the
  • Africans/ win African converts to Christianity
  • To train African catechist/and evangelists who
  • could be used in the missionary work
  • To use the schools to ‘civilize’/transform the Africans
  • To use the schools to fight against /or eliminate certain African practices, which were not in keeping with Christianity (egwitchcraft, polygamy)
  • To train people to work in the colonial administration / in the settlers farms and in the mission stations.
  • To provide education in order to uplift the living standard to Africans’
  •  To teach the converts how to read so that they could read the Bible and other Christian literaturefor themselves/translate the bible
  • To equip the African with basic skills of literacy and numerate social and practical skills.
  • The missionaries also wanted to us schools to teach religious instructions/knowledge for the spiritual development of adherents /deepen their faith

(c)

  • Use of radio/television to air programs that cover a wide range of Christian life and ministry e.g worship services, plays film literatures, choirs, songs and crusades
  • Use of news papers to educate the people on the work of church and how they should behave.
  • Churches publishing their own magazines,pamphlets, brochures and news letter in which they write on various issues – (political, social economical, religious and family life).
  • Use of posters carrying Christian messageandteaching
  • Print Post Cards, which carry Christian carry Christian message

1996 Q 18

  • Too many needy cases
  • Lack of experts to help in specialized areas e.g. in hospitals to help people with special needs
  • Tribal/ ethnic feelings/ zoning prevalent at present/ marginalization
  • Political learning’s and influence Christians belonging to a political party are not free to help needy people who do not belong where they belong
  • Poor communication/ infrastructure in some parts of the country
  • Sometimes aid has some strings attached  donors dictate how aid should be spent// given used
  • Economic demands/ inflation which leave Christians with nothing to help  the poor with/ give/ lack of enough resources
  • Indifferences by some Christians to the plight of the needy/ some Christians are too attached to their material wealth/ selfishness
  • Corruption/ bribery prevailing in the society/ lack of transparency  and accountability discourage some of the Christians from helping the poor
  •   Denominational factors where Christians from one denomination are not ready to help the needy  who are not members of their church
  • Lack of strategies/ procedure/ system on how help given is spent
  • Lack of awareness by some Christians on almsgiving          (5 x 1 = 5 mks)

1997 Q 18

  • Rehabilitate them/ reform them/ change them
    • Try to link them up with their families / parents
    • Give them guidance and counseling
    • Provide them with the basics  of life- food, shelter and  clothing/ material support
    • Help them to go to school/ provide leaving  resources/ pay  school fees
    • Help in building home for them/ contribute to  building homes
    • Appeal to the governments and the non- governmental  organizations and the community to help  those children
    • Persuade them to attend church and accept them into the churches/ give them moral support.
    • Accept and welcome street boys to their homes
    • Evangelize them/ win them to the church
    • Start money generating projects for them
    • Help equip them with  survival skills for employment and self- employment
    • Teach them  values and morals e.g. cleanliness, honesty, self – respect

                                                                                                 (5 mks)

2001 Q 19

  • Praying for them
  • Providing them with food and water clothes i.esharing .
  • Initiating/funding projects  to help them become self reliant food production.
  • Sanitizing people on the plight of the affected cases.
  • Advocating for equitable distribution of resources.
  • Supporting their self help projects.
  • Providing medical facilities/care.
  • Providing basic education/skills/training
  • Providing basic education/skills/training
  • Providing guidance and counseling/preaching to then
  • Providing guidance and counseling/preaching to then.
  • Providing personal care/visiting them.          5×1=5mks

2003  Q 19

  • It is a saving/ form  of investment
  • To provide security against risks( disability, death, theft, sickness etc)
  • It can assist one to get a loan
  • To fulfill legal requirements/ moral obligations
  • For the beneficiaries to inherit
  • For use in old age/ after retirement
  • To generate revenue/ income/ create employment    (5 x  1 = 5 mks)

2003 Q 2c (PP2)

  • He should  not accept the bribe
  • He should condemn the act of bribing
  • He should pray for God’s guidance
  • He should advice the person not to depend on bribing

2005 Q3c (PP2)

  • There is selfishness/ individuals in modern  society
  • The high costly of living  has led to  economic constraints
  • Some only share with members of their tribe/ race/ clan/ family
  • Denominational differences hinder the spirit of sharing
  • It can encourage dependence/ laziness
  • It is difficult to identify those  who may genuinely require help/ assistance
  • Those receiving help may be suspicious
  • Those receiving the assistance may not  show appreciation
  •  They have not understood  the biblical concept of sharing                    

( 1 x 6  = 6 mks)

2005 Q 6c (PP2)

  • Advocates  for equitable distribution of resources
  • Condemns unfair treatment of workers
  • Supports  income generating activities among its members
  • Initiates projects where people are employed
  • Establishes people on the importance of sharing resources/ communal living
  • Encourage self- employment
  • Preaches against idleness/ encourages dignity of work
  • Condemns deals in the society                                   (7 x 1 = 7 mks)

2009 Q 6

  • It has led to introduction of wage labor instead of communal working that existed.
  • It led to migration to town as people search for better paying jobs, destroying the closely knit traditional way of life.
  • It has led to formation of sio-economic classes among the people/rich versus poor thus creating suspicion/insecurity.

It has created individualism which has destroyed the communal way of living/extended family relationship.

  • It has led to vices like bribery/corruption/exploitation which have replaced honesty/fairness in traditional African setting.
  • The dependency on no money has led to social evils like prostitution, immorality which has destroyed the traditional concept of marriage/value of sex.
  • It has led to private ownership of land/land can be bought by those with money hence destroying the traditional land ownership.
  • Dowry has been commercialized thus destroying the traditional African meaning of showing appreciation of the family of the bride/girl.
  • The type of education one receives is now determined by the amount of money one has unlike in the traditional set up where the elders passed on education to all without being paid.
  • Due to the introduction of money economy modern means of transport have been acquired which led to accidents/pollution of the environment.
  • Age is no longer a determinant of social status/ a rich young man maybe respected by an elder who is not economically stable.                                                                                                                                                                     (4 x 2 = 8marks)
    • Wealth should be acquired in the right manner
    • Wealth a gift from God/God given
    • Wealth should be used to serve God/expand God’s Kingdom.
    • Those who have wealth are only stewards
    • Those who have wealth are only stewards.
    • Poverty is not a result of sin/the poor can only enjoy God’s blessing
    • Wealth can be hindrance for one to enter in the Kingdom of God.
    • One cannot serve God and Mammon/wealth
    • Wealth cannot satisfy all human needs/cannot answer human quest for salvation.
    • Those who have wealth should avoid extravagance/prodigality/luxury
    • Earth wealth/possession is temporary
    • Those who have wealth should use it responsibly.                (6 x 1 = 6 marks)
  • Gambling enables one to get money/wealth without working for it
    • In gambling one’s gain leads to another person loss
    • It creates bitterness in the one who losses
    • The bible condemns gambling/unfair interests
    • It involves taking advantage of the ignorant players
    • There is no security on the wealth/money one put in gambling
    • It is addictive/can become a compulsive habit
    • It can interfere with family budget/priorities/can lead to misunderstanding in the family/friends
    • It can lead to violence/loss of life
    • It can lead to stress/illness
    • It shows lack of trust/dependence upon God
    • It can lead to poverty, time wasting at the expense of productive work. 

                                                                                                            (6 marks)

2010 Q4 c

  • There are too many needy cases.
    • Tribal/ethnic feelings may hinder one from giving assistance to the needy.
    • Political leaning/affiliations influence Christians against helping those who do not belong to their   camp.
    • Lack of what to share/inadequacy
    • Indifferences of some Christians to the light of the needy.
    • Denominational differences where some Christians are not ready share with those who do not belong to their group
    • Poor communication/infrastructure in some parts of the country that make impossible to reach   the needy
    • It is difficult to identify the genuine needy cases
    • Misappropriation of resources meant for assisting the needy discourages Christian from contributing.

2011 Q 4c (PP2)

  • Some Christians lack the gift of healing
  • They are afraid of being infected
  • Because of religious/ denominational barriers
  • They lack knowledge / skill of handling the sick
  • They have no time for the sick
  • Because of poverty/ may not have enough resources to share
  • Lack of love for the needy/ sick
  • It is difficult for some Christians to determine those who are genuinely sick/ fainting
  • Due to social differences / status/ educational background
  • Due to nepotism/ ethic affiliations
  • Due to gender biases

2012 Q6a,c (PP2)

  • The traditional African concept of wealth
  • Wealth is a blessing from God.
  • It is pan and parcel of human existence.
  • It is measured in the amount of property/wives/children one has.
  • It can be individually/communally owned.
  • Wealth is acquired through hard work/inheritance/gift.
  • Wealth determines ones social status.
  • Wealth should be used to help the needy in society.
  • There are rules governing how it is distributed.
  • Wealth is used to worship God.-appease ancestors.
  • ‘                                                     

                                                                                                            (6×1=6 mark)

(c)      Ways the Church is using to eradicate poverty in Kenya.

  • The Church preaches/teaches/encourages hard work among the citizens which enables them to fight poverty.
  • The Church speaks against vices like oppression/exploitation ol the pool by the rich in the society which arc promoting poverty.
  • The Church takes care of the poor by providing them with material possesion
  • The Church has established projects that offer employment to members •>) the society, this enables them to take care of their needs.
  • The Church gives out bursaries to the needy children enabling them undertake education and get employment.
  • The Church is offering subsidized medical -services which enhances the economic output/productivity of the people.
  • The Church is working together with the government to create a peaceful society which promotes economic/social development.
  • The Church prays for God’s intervention in the lives of the poor which gives them hope in life.
  • It offers guidance and counseling to the poverty stricken thus enabling them to open up to realities of life                                                                                                                                                                              (6 x 1=6 marks)
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