Blurb

I laboured for more than three decades on poverty and sustainability in Asia and Africa as a scientist and development aid professional. Over time it became clearer that I was seeing and approaching poverty and sustainability in a limited and distorted way. This writing is a testimony to that.

Humanity is essentially unsustainable in nature. We were made by God for eternal life with Him in Paradise, but were tempted into following the devil’s selfish lie and lead instead. We turned from God believing we could play God in our own lives. We were corrupted from within and got separated from God. Sin became our poverty and innate unsustainability.

Human self-effort, will, pride, clever plans and projects will never overcome this corruptness or save the world and ourselves. We need to be saved from our sinful selves. We need the ultimate sustainability: salvation.

But instead of turning back towards God, we have become experts at turning good things into idols – false gods – which we hope can sustain and save us. There are, however, no science, technology, money, artificial intelligence (AI), or other man-made poverty and sustainability fixes. We need to seek God, believe, repent of our sinfulness, and place our hope in Him. Only God saves and sustains.

Love God and neighbour. Act in faith and gratitude. That is anti-poverty. That is sustainable. Therein rests true hope. God’s grace is more than sufficient. Start there.

”The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.”
(Psalm 23:1-3)