Proverbs 19: Poor Treatment

Proverbs wrestles with the treatment of the poor and addresses the poor treatment that those living in poverty often receive.

"Wealth brings many friends, but the poor are left friendless" (vs. 4)  One may wonder just how valuable such "fair-weather friends" are if the only reason they stick around is because of their attraction to wealth!  Still, the accuracy of Solomon's point stands - it is easier for the wealthy to maintain a stable of friends because of their generosity and quality of possessions than it is for the poor without those resources.  

True story: while I did not grow up in a "rich" household, I did enjoy some quality toys given to me by my parents.  One was an Atari video game system.  In the early 1980s, many children had Atari systems - but not everyone did.  There was one older boy in my neighborhood who basically ignored me until he found out that I had an Atari in my bedroom.  After that discovery, he was interested in inviting himself over to my house - which I quickly discovered was because he just wanted to play on the Atari!  What that story depicts in miniature is also a life lesson - "friends" just come more naturally to those who have nice things to be shared.

"If the poor are hated even by their kin, how much more are they shunned by their friends!" (vs. 7)  Those who struggle to get by may find that their social opportunities are as lacking as their economic ones.  While I think things have improved since Solomon's age in that contemporary Americans are not as focused on the wealth of their friends, diminished resources often means that we cannot do the things we would like.  It's hard to have an active social life when so many of the activities that you might enjoy with friends (going to movies, sporting events, dining out, etc.) involve spending money you don't have.

"Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full" (vs. 17).  Yet, while the above two proverbs are descriptive, verse 17 is prescriptive.  Just because the poor may not attract many friends, God's people are still called to be generous toward them.  Involved in this proverb is a promise - those who show kindness to the poor will be shown kindness by God.  It's not necessarily an ironclad guarantee, but it is a biblical principle that serves to show us that God cares about the poor - and so should we.