Broke Vs. Poor
My Story
I like looking up the definition of words. I found that sometimes I assume I know the definition of a word because I’ve been hearing and using it for years and using it in the right context. But looking up definitions informs, clarifies, and corrects my thinking; and it expands my vocabulary. Let me give you an example.
Once I started to learn about money and finances and started evaluating my circumstances, I almost convinced myself I was poor. My financial net worth was negative because I owed a whole lot more than I owned free and clear.
It was a sobering reality. Part of the process of transforming my former thinking that, “I’m good,” I started thinking of myself as poor. The numbers didn’t lie- I was deep in debt- but I felt like I fraud or liar because I didn’t look poor. I didn’t even feel poor. Why was I feeling so weird? So, I looked up the word, poor.
Broke- Not Poor
Poor is defined as, “having little or no money, goods, or other means of support.”
That’s it! It felt weird because I’m not poor. I have a steady job (as far as jobs go) and plenty of goods. I have a home, furnishings, heat, air, flat screens, a car, clothes, shoes, and just about everything I need and want. No, I don’t own my home, but I’ve been fortunate to be able to pay my mortgage every month. That’s not idea, but I have a place to lay my head at night. I’m not destitute food or any other necessities. I don’t worry about the next meal or have ever had to go to sleep hungry or cold.
On top of that, I had a small support network. Whenever I thought about worst case scenarios of losing my home, I consoled myself by saying, God would provide. I would just move in with my Pastor and First Lady or my aunties from church. It would be humbling, but I would have somewhere to go until I could regroup. It never crossed my mind that I wasn’t making the best financial decisions or that there were things I could do differently and improve my situation.
So, no, I wasn’t poor; I was just broke.
One of the definitions of broke is “without money.” No matter how much money I made, I was always living beyond my means. I was breaking my own bank. Anything I got, I spent. At
the end of every month, I was “without money.” As my salary went up, my spending went up. It was reward for working hard (a better phone , a better car, better stuff). I never had a real savings because no one ever talked to me about that. I thought responsible adults were just supposed to pay their bills- and most of the time I did that.
Poor- Not Broke
But there are people who are truly poor, who are destitute of basic necessities (shelter, food, water, clothing, sanitation, medical care, etc.). And it’s not necessarily because they have done anything wrong. It does not mean they lack drive and determination, It’s not necessarily because they refuse to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. In fact, some are out there grinding, but never really getting ahead.
Maybe they were born into poverty and were never afforded the opportunity to get out; or medical bills have eaten up their income; or maybe they lost a job or the bread winner in the household. Maybe they were put out as a teenager or ran away and never really recovered. Maybe they are trapped in an abusive relationship; or suffer from a mental disorder or addiction, or live with someone else who does. Maybe they just don’t know how to get unstuck.
No, I wasn’t poor; I was just broke. I was making poor decisions because I lacked the information and tools to do better. All, I needed was exposure to a different way of thinking about money, new behaviors, and a budget. Over time, I was able to stop living broke and learn to be a better steward in the Kingdom of God. That’s what we are called to do- to be good stewards- to be faithful over the little or over the much.
