Water is a vital source of life to all living things on our planet. Every single day we consume it, whether in the juice we drink or in the food we eat, yet many claim they can’t drink a plain tall glass of water. It is estimated that the average person uses 80-100 gallons of water per day. Something as simple as taking a shower can use about 2 gallons per minute. It’s clear that no matter the walk of life, water is something we cannot live without. It is no wonder that Jesus himself mentions water when speaking several times in the bible. In John 7:38 he talks about living water that flows from those who believe in him and in John 4:14 he talks about living water that quenches the thirst of our souls.

Flint’s Toxin Water

Flint, Michigan, though very close to the great lakes of Michigan the residents of this community are unable to get clean water. Approximately two years ago, the state of Michigan decided to save money by switching Flint’s water supply from Lake Huron, to the Flint River, a notorious body of water that runs through town known to locals for its filth.

Despite this sad news a lot of support has been given to Flint residents. Puff Daddy and Mark Wahlberg have sent one million bottles. The city of Memphis has also sent 12,000 bottles. Ezekiel Ansah and team mates of the Detroit Lions, have sent 94,000 bottles. But, sending water to this city is not the solution. Not to diminish in anyway what has been done, these contributions are great. They have done more than I have. It’s important however to ascertain the cause of this event.

Many of us look at our empty pockets and we say to ourselves, “What am I gonna do?”

When stricken with the flu, taking NyQuil and continuing with normal day to day activities isn’t something most of us would do. We would make sure to get adequate rest, stay warm and eating healthy till we are completely recovered. The overall problem with Flint isn’t the contaminated water, it’s really poverty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau 40.1 percent of Flint’s population is living on poverty. Since 2005, an estimated 5,000 abandoned homes were demolished and the median income for Flint a few years ago was just over $24,000. Michigan’s median income is $48,411. Keep in mind that poverty isn’t just a money situation, the sooner we understand this, the better our future. Many of us look at our empty pockets and we say to ourselves, “What am I gonna do? What can I do?”

Poverty Levels

Poverty is more mental than physical. Ignorance is the root of the problem. We need to recognize that our purpose is greater than what they’ve been doing all their lives. Norman Vincent Peale said, “Change your thoughts, change your world.” The sooner we change our thoughts, the better our goals and desires in life. This begins to happen when we feed our minds with right food.If we don’t feed on the right stuff, what’s going to come out of you? Only what goes in, can come out and nothing more. When we find ourselves stuck in the same situation year after year, it’s because we’ve made a choice to be there. The poverty in Flint is happening everywhere, but on different levels.

Disheveled living conditions are just one of the manifestation of poverty. However there are many who appear affluent– they attend universities, pay bills, throw parties and seem to have a handle on life, but beneath the veneer is a level of ignorance. This is not just in one comment:”low income areas,” there’s ignorance everywhere.

A Thirst for More

Many of us drink water similar to what Flint residents were given.Revelation 3:17-18 makes it clear that we all have a thirst that nothing tangible can fulfill. We live in a time where people have access to so much and yet they’re never satisfied. It is simply because we are greater than what we appear to be, the bible says that we were made a little lower than angels Psalm 8:5 and because of this we were designed to reign with God 2 Timothy 2:12. Many of us drink water similar to what Flint residents were given. The type of water that comes from broken fountains and murky reservoirs, only it’s water that feeds our minds and souls.

Whenever we allow ourselves to be degraded either by what we watch, listen or practice we’re drinking for a contaminated source, no wonder we’re so thirsty. However when we thirst we need to remember the words of Jesus: but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life – John 4:14.

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