Even if nothing out rightly illegal was done, many have felt that these company officials, as stated in Fortune magazine, "were getting immensely, extraordinarily, obscenely wealthy." Putting it in the context of what is happening in the world, some wonder how such extreme windfalls, estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars for some individuals, can be justified when so many live in poverty.
This is not to say that no one is trying to do something about the plight of the poor. Well-meaning government officials and help organizations have certainly put forth proposals for change. Nevertheless, the facts remain discouraging. The Human Development Report 2002 says that "many countries are poorer than 10, 20 and in some cases 30 years ago," in spite of many noble efforts to make improvement.
Organizations and governments have put forth a long list of suggestions and plans to try to solve the problem. Among them are: social insurance programs, improved education, canceling debts developing nations owe to industrialized nations, removing import barriers so that nations with a large percentage of poor people can sell their products more easily, and low income housing for the poor.
In the year 2000, the United nations General Assembly set goals to be achieved by 2015. these included eliminating of extreme poverty and hunger as well as gross inequality of income within countries. However noble such goals may be, many doubt that they can be achieved in this disunited world.
Since hope for real progress on a worldwide scale is slim, where can a person turn for help? I believe people can turn to help from a practical source of wisdom that can help them right now. It is God's Word, the Bible.
What makes the Bible different from all other sources of information? It comes from the highest authority, our Creator. He has included in its pages gems of wisdom; practical principles that are applicable to all people, in all places, and at all times.
