POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND ITS IMPLICATION FOR THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH

Résumé

Nigeria's largest population is experiencing poverty due to corruption, economic recession, unemployment, and the outcome of rampantterrorism. Many citizens lack the basic necessities of life such as food, clothes, good health and shelter. These challenges havenecessitated this paper which dwells on poverty alleviation in the Old Testament and its implication for the contemporary church. The authors have adopted exegetical approach to examine the Hebrew scripturein which much care as well as supportwas given to the poor, for God commands that the poor should be cared for.The purpose of the paper is to analyse the social responsibility carried out by the church of Christ which traces its origin to the Old Testament scripture.The contemporary church is well challenged for her lack of love as she fails to care for the poor up to the expectation.It has been discovered in the research that in the early church and during the white missionary era in Nigeria much care was given to the poor than what is done today. The paperconcludes that the care for the poor is a holy responsibility directed from God to make his justice to prevail. The paper recommends that the church should work together with government and concerned individuals to adopt different strategies to eradicate poverty in Nigeria. The research could be very vital if its suggestions are implemented as this could minimize the level of poverty in the country.