Proverbs 28:3

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 giving others grace, like you received grace:

Proverbs 28:3 (ESV)

A poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

There is nothing worse than someone who "needs" someone else to ridicule, make fun of, or degrade - who also needs something!! Think about this: A poor man, who needs grace by others, ridicules a man poorer than himself. This is the parabale Christ taught in Matthew 18. The man who couldn't pay his debt and was released from it. Rather than rejoice and forgive others of their debts to him, instead he went out and beat a man who owed him an insignificant amount compared to what he was just forgiven. In the above proverb, Solomon tells us this type of person is like a driving rain that leaves "no" food. It is a mean behavior when someone won’t forgive when they are, themselves, forgiven. It is an evil act when you are given grace and you can't give it to others. It is wicked to know what it is like to need and not find grace to others who are equally, or even more so, in need. God despises those who show no grace. This is why we need grace. This is why we need to show grace. Don't be a driving rain. Be a refreshing mist. Think about the word picture Solomon is giving us here.  Crops need rain.  They need a lot of rain to survive and to thrive.  Yet, a “driving” rain damages the very crops it should be nourishing. That is what it is like for a poor man (already needing mercy and grace) who oppresses the lowly ... those even less than themselves.   God sees these injustice acts.  He takes note of them and will rectify this in the final judgment.   

Matthew 5:7 (ESV)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.