Proverbs 29:7 The more things change - Part II

The righteous care about justice for the poor,
    but the wicked have no such concern.

 It was a common sight in the days of FDR's presidency (I've been told this, OK? I'm not this old!) for a formerly-well-paid executive to be seen still wearing his business suit, diligently sweeping a city sidewalk, or picking up stray sheets of newsprint in the city park.

FDR's "relief" programs sounded a lot like those of Israel, that we studied yesterday. The Hebrew people were to leave the corners of their fields for the poor to glean and use for food --- notice that they were not told to harvest it and drop it on the poor peoples' doorsteps. You could get help then, and in FDR's America, but you had to work for it.

Somewhere along the line, things have changed. Today there is no distinction made between those who cannot provide for themselves, and those who will not. Personally, I think this is wrong.

Let's look at the work ethic of the Bible. Do you recall what went on in the Garden of Eden? From the very start, mankind (in this case, just Adam and Eve) has had a job. Granted, theirs was a wonderful one --- lovely surroundings and not too much strenuous work to do. Check out Genesis 2:15, if you don't believe me!  So work was a good and positive part of life. (God created us to be active and useful, and that is why we are happiest when we are doing what He intended.)
Now, the "fall" when sin came into the lovely world God created, changed all of that. Work became harder, and more strenuous, and just generally less fun.

There are many verses that explain what our work ethic should be -- in fact, we have studied many of them:

Proverbs 14:23 In all work there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.
Proverbs 10:4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

In the New Testament, too, we find guidelines; Paul commends hard work, and even condemns laziness:

"If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their own work quietly and to earn their own living."  II Thessalonians 3:10-12

Not working because we can't be bothered is not an option:

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.  II Thessalonians 3:6-9

It is key for us as Christians to realize who our "Boss" really is --- we work for our Father!

"Slaves obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service as people-pleasers but with sincerity of heart fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward You are serving the Lord Christ."  Colossians 3:22-24

The slave in that passage was probably someone who did the most menial of jobs......think that what you are doing is just so boring and ordinary that it doesn't count for anything?
Think again! We are to do even those jobs as if we did them for Him!
Here's another important verse about our work ethic:

Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.  I Thessalonians 4:9-12

We can all agree that there are people in our country who are poor, and who are working hard. These diligent folks truly deserve our help, and we should keep our eyes open and assist them as God blesses us. We also have those with us who are unable to provide for themselves, either because of sickness, infirmity, or some handicap that stops them from being able to be employed in any way. These, too, deserve our help, and our compassionate care:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.”

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! II Corinthians 9:6-15

Yes, the more things change, with new programs and new ideas, the more they stay the same....the poor are still with us, and need our help.
Perhaps it is up to us, to voluntarily give, not just money, but time? Time to teach a young mother how to sew, so that she can use her skills to earn money for her children's needs. Time to teach an unemployed man how to prepare a resume, and how to job-hunt. There are things that we can do, besides grumble about how we think there are too many people on government aid! And I know that I may get some angry comments today, but I truly believe that these are our responsibilities, as much as we are able to do.
Christian giving is not political. It is an act of love.
The wicked don't care about the poor. But we should.
After we have looked to our own needs, we need to look at any in our churches who have needs. Then look in our world. We can give of our money and our time.
And God will take care of us.

Proverbs 29:7 The more things change - Part I

The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. 

Remember the old saying, "The more things change, the more they stay the same"? Some people today are concerned about the overwhelming numbers of people who are considered "below the poverty line" and need assistance. Some people grumble about the programs in place to help them. I share the concerns of those who feel that many have a sense of entitlement, and do not feel the need to work to provide for themselves and their families.

But let's look at the Biblical view on all of this, shall we? You see, the more things change, the more they stay the same. The poor have always been "with us" and there is a lot to glean from the Bible.

In the ancient world, to be poor was truly calamitous. Let's say that you were recently widowed -- you'd have what your husband had worked for and you had helped him to pull together, right? 
Wrong.
You would have nothing --- a widow did not inherit from her husband.

How about if your mom and dad passed away, leaving you orphaned. You'd inherit from them, right?
Wrong. You have nothing. Zip. Zero. Nada.

That is why God's law provided for the poor. Our Father has always tenderly loved those who truly have no way to provide for themselves. Written into His law were provisions to help:

Economic helps:  

            "Waste not" --- the corners of fields and the grapes dropped by workers were specifically left behind for the poor to gather and use. They could also eat from land that lay idle in the Sabbath years.
             "Protection from loan sharks" --- if someone owed you money, you could not take their garments, which could keep them warm, and you could not take their tools, because then they could not make a living and pay you back.
              "Pay him when he works" --- the poor, especially, were to be paid when they finished a job, because they needed it so desperately.
              "Celebrate!" --- every 50 years, there was a year of jubilee, and debts were canceled, lands were restored, and people were freed from indentured service.
              "He's kin to me" --- kinsman redeemers could help to repurchase their relatives' land, or rescue widows from their plight, as in the case of Naomi, Ruth, and their kinsman, Boaz.

Social helps:

                     "Justice is blind" --- over and over in the Old Testament, God declared that being just to the poor and defending the cause of the needy were dear to His heart. In fact, in Jeremiah 22:16, He said that to do these is the essence of knowing Him.
                     "He was my brother" --- Levirate marriage is a term that means widows could marry their husband's brothers in the hope of securing a male heir; someone to care for them in their old age.

Community worship helps:

                     "The right to rest" --- servants and slaves (and even animals) were to participate in the Sabbath rest commanded by the Lord.
                   "A sliding scale" --- poor people were allowed to purchase less costly sacrifices that they could afford, and still participate in temple worship.
                   "That tenth" --- one of the tithes was specifically for the yearly feast given to the fatherless, widows and other poor people. 

These concepts and others that I haven't touched on, demonstrate God's love and deep concern for the plight of the poor. Ignoring or taking advantage of them would bring His wrath and possibly His judgement. Caring for them was a huge sign of obedience to His law.

Tomorrow, let's look at New Testament attitudes, and what our own should be . . .

Proverbs 28:27 The lion and the mouse

He that gives to the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse. Proverbs 28:27

Our buddy Solomon is just re-phrasing a principle that was found in the Law -- be generous to those who have less than you do, and you will not lack what you need; you will receive a blessing from God. It was a physical reward for a physical offering. 

Real, tangible, you-can-hold-it-in-your-hand results.

In the New Testament, there are lots of verses that address this issue. We've looked at some of them already, when we have studied verses that are similar to this one. But I found something in Corinthians that really inspired me . . . let me show you:

⁸ I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others.For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.
Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need.    II Corinthians 8:8-14

Paul was discussing the churches and the way that they could assist one another --- from one who had abundance, to another who had need.  Did you see the bold type? Of course, that is my emphasis that I added, to draw our attention to it. It's kinda like the old story of the lion and the mouse. Remember? The mouse pleaded for his life and the lion let him go. He told the lion that someday when he was in trouble, the mouse would help him . . . and he did, when the lion was caught in a net. The mouse helped him to escape.

Now, please don't misunderstand me here. I'm not promising, as some will, that you will receive that tangible, hold-it-in-your-hand result. You might! There might be a time when someone whom you have helped, is able to repay your compassion with tangible things that you desperately need. You supplied their need in your time of bounty, and they will supply your need when you are lacking.
There might also be times when the blessing that we receive is a spiritual one:

⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!  II Corinthians 9: 6-15

 It's not what we have that is so important --- it's how we use what we have!!

Proverbs 28:6 I'd rather have Jesus

Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.

 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

I highlighted two words up there for us to focus on. Let's take the second one first (I know, I know, I'm squirrely.) What are a person's "ways"?  Is Solomon talking about a person's attitude, their manner of living, the way they handle crises, or the way they treat others? Let's go exploring, shall we?

You shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that you may live, and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.  Deuteronomy 5:33

In this verse, "ways" is a reference to the Law, and the Hebrew people's obedience to it. Now let's fast forward to the book of Job, and read:

Job 31:4 Does not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

So, a person's ways are how he or she lives, day by day, when people aren't watching, and when true character shows through. Of course, our ways are often quite different from God's ways. In fact, the help of the Holy Spirit is the only solution for making our ways mirror God's ways. 

Now, I highlighted another word up there . . .  if you search the Hebrew meanings for "perverse" in this verse, the first one that was listed in my commentary was "false."  That set the gears to turning.  Someone who is false, though he/she is rich.

 Have you ever thought about how rich we are, as Christians in this country? I believe that the majority of our readers are in the United States and the UK, where there are many, many churches, and you don't need to be registered with the government to attend one. We can walk into stores and purchase a copy of God's word, and we can read it anywhere we like -- we don't have to hide. There are radio stations that we can listen to, that only play gospel music or hymns. There are television stations that have a constant supply of preachers and evangelists for us to listen to and learn from. Wow!

Compare that to a person in China who must attend secret services in another Christian's home. Compare that to a poor person in Sudan, who will be tortured, exiled, or killed, if they mention their faith in Christ. How about another person in the Philippines, who is forced to endure hunger, disease, and persecution, in order to share a Bible and walk miles to hear the Word preached (again in secret). 

Those people who are poor in situation or environment, but are faithful to Christ, are better than the "rich" Christian whose ways are "false." The one who forgets to pray until a crisis looms. Or goes days, weeks, even months without opening the Bible beside their bed. Or the one who joins in worldly activities and attitudes, instead of standing up for righteousness. 

I've stepped on my own toes here, so I hope you will forgive me if I happen to have bruised yours as well. While I hunt for the box of bandaids, give a listen to this old hymn that was a standard for George Beverly Shea . . . 

Proverbs 28:3 "I've been there"

A ruler who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food. 

I added the second translation of this verse, because after studying it, I believe it is closest to the meaning Solomon intended. (That is, however, purely my opinion, and I'm not a Hebrew scholar, so please don't fuss at me!)

A gully-washer.

A frog-choker.

These are terms that my grandparents used in the days that they cultivated crops on their farm. They were talking about extremely heavy rains; rains that would wash a gully in a newly-plowed field. Storms that came on fast, and so furiously, and poured down so much rain that it seemed it would choke a frog (and he is supposed to be used to the rain, right?). 
The end result of these storms is not pretty. You don't get lush fields and waving plants from this kind of rain. It happens so fast that the water is unable to penetrate the earth, soften the soil, and nourish the plant life. It actually runs off - goes downhill and into the streams so fast that it carries precious soil and nutrients along with it. This kind of storm will often strip roots bare of their soil covering, and leave the plants to wither instead of thrive.
Solomon is comparing people to this type of rainstorm. What kind of people? In this particular instance, he notes poor people who oppress the poor. In other words, a person who was poor at some point in his life, and who now is wealthy -- and uses his position to oppress, rather than to assist, people who are still in need. Someone who really ought to say, "I've been there" and give someone a hand up. Instead, they look down on the poor person, and perhaps even do things that cause the unfortunate person to wither instead of to thrive. . . just like the rainstorm we talked about.
We may not be wealthy, and we may not oppress poor people . . . but what about that Christian sister who confides to us about that sin she can't seem to shake? The one that we were able to overcome, by the Holy Spirit's help? Do we offer her encouragement? Do we think (and say) "I've been there" and give her the help she needs, the verses that helped us?  If we don't, we are just like that rainstorm that pulls the soil out from under a plant.
And, in reality, what about that Christian brother or sister who is struggling to make ends meet? Perhaps they don't seem "poor" to us, but they are searching for work while raising a family, and must minister to an elderly relative, as well.  Do we look down our noses at their noisy (hungry) kids because they don't have nice things, or do we offer to let them use our washer and dryer to clean their family's clothing? We can witness over folded towels just as easily as over a cup of coffee. Do we think proudly about the great job we did, finding a job, and "surely they can do the same...they just have to try harder."  Or do we think, "I've been there" and slip a gift card for groceries into their pocket? 
Many times after a driving rain, a farmer will go into the fields and gently use his hoe to pull soil back around the roots of storm-ravaged plants. The plants will survive, because of the gentle work the farmer does.
Let's try to be farmers, and help people, instead of being gully-washers, that tear them down!

Proverbs 22 : 1 - 2 God made them all

Pro 22:1  A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.
Pro 22:2  The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both

First of all, I would like to thank Tonya for a wonderful series of studies over the last week or so --- weren't they great? It meant a lot to me and has made a difference already in the way I treat the relationship with my hubby.  She was able to remind me of things that I have known, but have not paid enough attention to! Thanks, Tonya!

I may have mentioned before that we homeschooled our three kiddos until college . . . one of the subjects on their curriculum was Bible. Not just during devotions, but a full scale study of a portion of the Word, each year.  I can remember several times when they were in grade school, they would look at me with puzzled faces and say "Mom, why is THIS in the Bible? These people did exactly the wrong thing (or said the wrong thing, or whatever)."  I would tell them that sometimes God inspired writings that would show us what NOT to do, as well as what we SHOULD do.

We've noted before that it is easy for us to slip into the world's way of looking at people. "Clothes make the man (or woman)" is the message being trumpeted by the commercials and magazine ads. And indeed, people who are dressed nicely do get treated better than the ones who are not handsomely dressed. This was a problem in the early Christian church, too. Just listen to James as he exhorts his readers:

 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. ² Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. ³ If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” ⁴ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

⁵ Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? ⁶ But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? ⁷ Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
⁸ If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. ⁹ But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

Apparently it (favoritism) was just as much a problem in the early church, as it was in Solomon's time, and it's still a problem today.  And it's in the Word so that we can learn from it, right?

Lord, help me to have a heart for the poor, as you did. And then help me to "walk the walk" and show that love.