the trying of the poor

In my recent thoughts on intention, I also noticed that valuing intention and "trying" over success or achievement, as I believe God does, has important implications especially for the lives of the poor. They are significantly disadvantaged when it comes to producing big results or achievements noticed in society. This is part of why the poor are usually ignored or dismissed. But it looks different if success is not our primary value.

In most cases, producing successful results in society requires not just effort but also resources. Money, property, education, but perhaps more importantly, access and connections to people with influence. When it comes to "getting things done," one of the most crucial ingredients is "who you know." And these are the kind of resources that poor people usually have no access to. So their efforts very rarely can produce the kind of results and achievements that are much easier for people with more social privileges.

The poor are thus seen as woefully disadvantaged, even in religious circles. How can they "produce fruit" or lead successful ministries when they don't have the resources required to even start to make those things happen?

But if the "fruit" that God desires of us is not religious institutions or influential charities or anything that requires start-up money or political influence, then it doesn't look so bad for the poor. I notice that the fruit of the Spirit that Paul wrote about—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc.—is not bricks and mortar, or institutional, but acts of personal intention. This fruit appears in the nature of our personal choosing and acting, in our trying. It's not in the results, in the successful building of a ministry for example, but simply in the trying to do good, to love, to exercise generosity, or self-control. This is what God values and desires. And this is something the poor can do just as well as any of us, if not better.