"Know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that the Lord is God in the heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other." (Deuteronomy 4:39)

We live in a land of plenty. A rich and sophisticated people, we are a nation of greater wealth and technological accomplishment than the world has ever known.

But still there are those among us who are poverty-stricken. We are faced with the age-old problem of the "haves" and the "have-nots." And, of course, there are many different types of poverty. Many Americans are struggling against the problems of material poverty. Witness the ever-growing number of homeless people in our society - such a problem that people like former President Jimmy Carter are expending a tremendous effort to construct homes for those not otherwise able to…