Scripture Reading:

Proverbs 14:20-21

Proverbs 14:20

The poor is hated even of his own neighbor: but the rich has many friends. 

In the current English usage, “hate” is a potent word, connoting a deep disdain and antipathy towards others. This is not quite the same use of the word found here and in other places in Scripture.

Considering the poorest person or family in the neighborhood, the school, or church, generally we will learn they have come out of a very difficult background. Perhaps the sin of alcoholism or divorce has taken the father out of the home and the fatherless children do not enjoy the benefits of a father’s loving care and training. Poverty is often associated with a lack of character, slothfulness, and irresponsibility. Illegitimacy rates are far higher in poor inner-city neighborhoods. Of course, this does not hold true in every case. But there is and always will be a stigma attached to poverty.

We must hasten to add several important qualifications, however. In God’s Word, descriptions of the way things are do not equate to prescriptions for the way things ought to be. So James commends those who are poor in earthly belongings, but rich in spiritual things (James 2:5). There are many examples of these godly poor to be found in church history, not the least of which was our Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Some Christian believers have voluntarily distributed their goods to the poor and lived out their years in simple, austere conditions.

The world operates by the principle “You scratch my back, and I will scratch yours.” The rich have many friends, only because all of them have the wherewithal to scratch each others’ backs. Quite the opposite approach is taken by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to associate with the poor, apply His healing touch to the lepers, and help those who could not help themselves. He came, not to be served, but to serve (Matt. 20:28). He came, not to eat and drink with the rich and the self-righteous, but to heal the sick, and to call sinners to
repentance.

While the world looks down upon the lower classes as a rule, Christians are called to a higher standard ( Jas. 2:1-6). Indeed, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:28). We are all spiritually impoverished, condemned sinners, redeemed by the priceless blood of the Lamb of God. As the poor and simple man enters the church and walks with us in faith and repentance, we render him equal honor and encouragement. Although he comes from a different background, repents of different sins, and starts at a different mark, he is our brother. The drunk has put down his whiskey idol, and the prostitute has quit her sexual sin, and they have committed to the pilgrim pathway with the rest of us.

Proverbs 14:21

He that despises his neighbor sins: but he that has mercy on the poor, happy is he. 

The Proverbs now provide the very qualification and prescriptive advice taken up by James in his epistle. Often, people will despise poor families in the neighborhood or in the church community. This is clearly a sin. Rather than pulling away from these folks and avoiding any contact with their financial and spiritual situation, Christians are called to do just the opposite. We do not cast them off to the government in order to avoid involvement in their suffering. Absolutely not! We visit the fatherless and widow in their distress ( James 1:27), and that implies personal contact and involvement in their lives.

The happiest people in the world are those who practice “pure religion and undefiled before God.” They visit the widow in her distress. Taking a vital and personal interest in the poor is not limited to pouring money into their coffers, (which is about the only thing government welfare programs know how to do). Sometimes the widow needs an extra word of encouragement, a faith boost, prayer, and some wise direction. The wrong kind of physical assistance can be counterproductive, even destructive to hearth and home. One needs only to witness the effect of socialist systems on inner city family life since the 1960s to understand the urgency of this point. Biblical, godly charity is personal, voluntary, relational, and local.

Family Discussion Questions:

1. Is it correct to say that every poor person is in that condition because of sin in his life? Does sin have anything to do with poverty?

2. What are the best ways to show mercy on the poor? How does our family practice pure religion (James 1:27)?