The "Poor" Man

For Monday, November 13, 2006
Proverbs 19:7

All a poor man's brothers hate him;
how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words,
but does not have them.

If a wealthy generous man has many friends, a poor man with nothing to give has none. They not only do not hang around him; they stay far from him. Of course, such "friends" are neither true friends of the generious man nor the poor man.

These "friends" are the true losers. At best they may gain some material favor. But what they gain with it is a bad reputation for lack of integrity, for not being trustworthy, for selfishness, and other shameful traits. They also miss out on what is of greater value than material prosperity - true friendship. They have no one they can count on, no one for comradeship, no who will be for them in time of need. They will ever experience loneliness; ever live in suspicion of others who share their same worthless values.

And they are made blind to who truly is wealthy and rich. The reason many turned away from Jesus is that he was perceived to be poor. The reason many keep away from him now is that his Body is perceived to be poor. All his Church has to offer is the Gospel, which seems a poor substitute to the "wealth" that Satan and the world have to offer. Such "friends" go far from the poor Gospel to their death.