Why Doesn't God Help the Poor and the Needy?

Why Doesn't God Help the Poor and the Needy?

Today, I would like to share another part of a conversation I had with my colleague from the office.

One day, while we were travelling to work together, he asked me a question that many people ask:

"Why doesn't God help the poor and the needy?"

At that time, a tragic incident had taken place in Telangana. A young woman was returning home from work when her scooty broke down near a toll plaza. After some time, a few men approached her, gained her trust, took her to an isolated place, and committed a terrible crime against her. Later, the accused were killed in a police encounter.

Referring to this incident, my colleague asked me,

"If God really exists, how can He be so cruel? So many people are poor. Why doesn't God simply make them rich? Why doesn't He stop such terrible things from happening?"

As I listened to his question, I remembered an example given by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, and I used the same example to explain my answer.

I asked him,

"There are many barbers in our city. Then why have your hair and beard grown so long?"

He smiled and replied,

"Because if I don't go to a barber, how can he cut my hair?"

Using his own answer, I said,

"In the same way, if we never turn to God, never pray to Him, and never seek His shelter, how can we expect Him to help us?"

He immediately asked another question.

"But why should we go to God? He already knows everything. People say that He knows every atom of the universe."

I replied,

"Yes, you are right. God knows everything. He knows not only what is happening in the world but also what is present within our hearts."

The Bhagavad Gita describes the Supreme Lord as the witness who resides in everyone's heart.

"The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living beings."

— Bhagavad Gita 18.61

God is like a loving father who wants His children to come to Him. When a child who is suffering approaches his father, the father naturally feels compassion and tries his best to help. In the same way, the Lord desires that all of us, His children, turn toward Him.

Lord Krishna also says:

"I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him."

— Bhagavad Gita 9.29

This shows that the Lord is equal to everyone, yet He shares a special loving relationship with those who willingly approach Him through devotion.

I further explained that the suffering we experience in this world is not created by God, nor is He necessarily testing every person.

Much of what we experience is the result of our own past actions.

The Bhagavad Gita also teaches that every individual has the freedom to perform actions, but not the power to control the results of those actions.

"You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions."

— Bhagavad Gita 2.47

In other words, God has given every living being the freedom to choose actions, but the results of those actions are awarded according to divine law. This is why the law of karma operates under the Lord's supervision.

But those who sincerely seek Krishna are surely blessed by His mercy.

The Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam explains that:

"My dear Lord, one who earnestly waits for You to bestow Your causeless mercy upon him, all the while patiently suffering the reactions of his past misdeeds and offering You respectful obeisances with his heart, words and body, is surely eligible for liberation, for it has become his rightful claim."

— Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.14.8

Hare Krishna!

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