Oppress (Proverbs 22:16)

When I read this next verse, I am reminded of America.

"He who oppresses the poor to get gain for himself, and he who gives to the rich will surely come to want." Proverbs 22:16, Amplified

This verse reminds me of taxes for some reason. The poorest of this nation get the hardest hit by taxes, but the rich get all the tax breaks. I mean to me, it makes no sense. I do not believe that this is the only reason why our nation is dying, but I do believe that this has been a contributor.

Supply and Demand (Proverbs 22:7)

There are certain laws that cannot be broken whether they be scientific or social.

"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Proverbs 22:7, Amplified

How much more simple can one get. This is a social law that will never change. Travel to any country, nation and culture and the same concept applies. This is what the economic concept of supply and demand is built upon. I do not think that there is anything else that can be said about this verse that already has not been said.

Created Equal (Proverbs 22:2)

Everybody has at least this one thing in common, God made everyone.

"The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all." Proverbs 22:2, Amplified

The meeting that this verse is referring to is a commonality between two persons. It is interesting, I was just talking to a friend of mine last night about this sort of thing. Death is the great leveler. In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, status separated these two men, however, in death, these two met eye to eye. Though they had a great chasm separating the two, the rich man finally took notice of Lazarus.

No matter where we are in this life, according to our status, riches or anything else, we are no better than the next guy. We all have the same beginning: the Lord made us all. We all have the same end: death.

On a tombstone, there is a little dash between the birth and death dates. That little dash signifies the life spent by the individual. How will your dash be read?

Humanity at its Base (Proverbs 19:6-7)

It seems as though there is a theme in the book of Proverbs that focuses on the nature of man. That nature being the desire to get more of what others have and forsake those who have not.

"Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man, and everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts." Proverbs 19:6, Amplified

Every relationship needs to be symbiotic. One needs to give to the other and vice versa. But in humanity (in its natural sinful state) is about looking out for oneself and what one may get. It is true that the one who shells out the dough or gives gifts has more friends. But that friendship that he establishes is strictly on the surface. There is nothing at the heart that draws others in. Who care about the personality of a man when he can give gifts?

"All the brothers of the poor detest him; how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but they are gone." Proverbs 19:7, Amplified

Remember, this is speaking of humanity at its base self. A life without Jesus or God is as empty as a used candy wrapper. The sweetness is gone, therefore it is good for nothing more than the landfill. If we base our relationships on whatever anyone else can give us, then the poor man is doomed; I am doomed. If this is true, then I should have no friends. But what I do have is Jesus Christ and Him crucified as well as my friends. Though I am poor and do not have much to give others, what we do have in common is salvation.

Something and Nothing (Proverbs 18:23)

It is interesting to see the different social dynamics of a society. Given the same set of circumstances, the rich and the poor approach the matter differently.

"The poor uses entreaties, but the rich answers roughly." Proverbs 18:23, Amplified

There isn't much to be said about this verse. But as I stated earlier, the rich and the poor act differently given the same set of circumstances.

An entreaty is an "earnest and humble request". The poor has no power, it seems, to act on his own therefore he uses entreaties to come to his end. In other words he begs. The rich do not have it in them to beg. At their disposal is wealth and resource.

Notice, however, that the Bible condemns neither of the two. Jesus ministered to everyone, the rich and the poor alike. Though the two are on polar opposites of the spectrum, those boundaries never kept Him from ministering. It was those boundaries that kept men and women from receiving. The Bible never condemns either because people are people, no matter the social order. All of us use what is at our disposal.

I am a poor man. There have been times when I have used entreaties to exact money to help with different things. Am I condemned? No. Do I have a lack of faith? No. I feel a lack of faith is sitting and doing nothing, while waiting for something to happen.

Realize one thing, something is never derived out of nothing and nothing doesn't come from something.