Neighbors

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 14:20-21

Proverbs 14:20 states a truism. It is self-evident that poor people don’t have the same attractional power as rich people. That’s not to say that have zero friends, but that the wealthier you are the easier it is for you to have friends.

But what is the point? Why does the writer tell us something we intuitively know is true? What are we supposed to do with this information? We don’t have to look far for the answer. Verse 21 takes what is generally true about life in this world and makes the application. Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

The wisdom here is the people of God are to live by a different standard than the world. One of the surest markers of where we are spiritually, whether we are following Christ or the world, is on the level of personal relationships. How we treat people says a lot about the state of affairs in our hearts

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