Poverty v Riches

Poverty and riches are two co-existing things. We have those with a lot of wealth and those who own little. These things are as they are because it is God’s love and purpose for all humanity. God is pleased to see that rich and poor live coherently in love, with good relationships. Whereas:

1.      A wealthy person has many ‘friends’: the poor has none left (Pro19:4)

2.      The poor man pleads but the rich man answers with insults (Pro18:23)

3.      A rich man’s wealth is his only strength; the poor man’s poverty is his curse (Proverbs 10:15).

4.      A poor man’s own brothers turn away from him in embarrassment; how much more his friends! He calls after them but they are gone (Proverbs).

But we have encouraging messages and warnings to all men from the Bible. Here we read:

1.      Honour the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income and He will fill your barns with wheat and barley, and overflow your wine vats with the finest wines (Proverbs 3:9,10).

2.      Better a little reverence for God than great prosperity and trouble with it (Proverbs 15:16).

3.      He did it so that you would never feel that it was your own power and might that made you wealthy. Always remember that it is your God who gives you power to become wealthy and He does it to fulfil His promises to your ancestors (Deuteronomy 8:17,18).

4.      A little gained honestly is better than great wealth gotten by dishonest means (Proverbs 16:8).

5.      Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act. Don’t be envious of evil men who prosper (Psalms 37:7).

6.      We should be well satisfied without money if we have enough food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8). The warning continues: (verses 17,18) Tell them who are rich not to be proud and not to trust in their money which will soon be gone, but their pride should be in the living God who always richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good.

Finally, the best answer for all men is to value and seek first the Kingdom of God and everything shall be added to them. They will be rewarded with eternal life when Jesus returns to the earth as King and Redeemer.