SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10
Proverbs 19:6-7
1 Corinthians 11:20-22

“All the brethren of the poor
do hate him …”

NO MONEY, NO TALK?

The reading for today reveals a sad reality of life: the rich are often exalted and the poor despised. The people of the world will often hang around the rich and powerful, hoping that some of the wealth will trickle down to them. Many will go all out to catch the attention of such wealthy men, seeking to please them with saccharine words or deeds of obeisance. The rich who are generous often find a following swooping to their feet like vultures!

The picture of the poor stands in stark contrast to the rich. Not only do his friends desert him, but his family does not want anything to do with him for he has no money. Nobody wants to help him for that will only cost them time and resources. Humanly speaking, there is no advantage to be gained from him!

The common denominator in the two proverbs is the love of money and the respect of persons. Sadly, this obnoxious attitude is sometimes transferred to the church. James had to rebuke this ungodly behavior in the Jewish church. “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4).

Christians ought not to have respect of persons. Is not every man a sinner in need of the grace of God? “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” (1 John 4:20). May the love of Christ be seen in your life.

THOUGHT: Am I a blessing to others for the sake of Christ?
PRAYER: Father, help me to love my neighbour as myself.