Proverbs 22:2

The book of Proverbs gives us insights into so many different areas of life. The book gives us instruction on how to live our lives for God. Here is a proverb that gives us insight about the rich and the poor: 

Proverbs 22:2 (ESV)

The rich and the poor meet together;

the LORD is the Maker of them all.

Proverbs 22:7

The rich rules over the poor,

and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Proverbs 22:9

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed,

for he shares his bread with the poor.

Proverbs 22:16

Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,

or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Proverbs 22:22-23

Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,

or crush the afflicted at the gate,

for the Lord will plead their cause

and rob of life those who rob them.

God understands, directs and gives principles about poverty.   In the instructions to the nation of Israel about poverty God said this:

Leviticus 23:22

“And when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, nor shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”

They were supposed to not glean the entire field so that, the poor could find food.  They were not to give to the poor, however.  They were to give opportunity to the poor.  God protects the poor and we are to create opportunities for them.  But, we are not to injury the poor.   We are to assure their better welfare.  Not by giving them welfare, but by making an opportunity for them to advance themselves.   God made the rich and the poor and He can exchange their positions at any time.  

I would like to someday call into a financial talk show to ask them about this proverb. How would a show, bent on and designed to help people get rich, handle such Biblical truth; stated by a man who had more money then Bill Gates, Apple and all the oil companies together. Solomon owned the world. His money and power was unmatched. Yet, Solomon in all his splendor recognized that he and the poorest man in his kingdom had one thing in common: They both were "made" by God. Job tells us the same thing in Job 31:15. God establishes the rich and the poor. This truth is why we are to assist the poor. They are made by God. That really would frustrate a financial strategy consultant. So many people attribute their money and riches to their own hard work and their own wisdom and effort. Yet, Solomon, in two lines of Hebrew poetry tells us more about financial accumulation than any consultant's book. Yes, it takes hard work to accumulate wealth. It takes wisdom and the right way to do it. But, that is because God puts His laws into affect. God establishes what we can and do earn in life. Don't boast about your bank account. Boast in the one who gives you the bank.