The Poor and the Rich

“The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all. The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:2, 7)

“The godly rich and poor meet together in one place to worship God; they meet together in a Gospel church state, enjoying the same privileges and ordinances; and will all meet the Lord, and all meet together at his judgment seat; and they will meet in heaven, and be together to all eternity, where the distinction will cease: and the wicked rich and poor meet together to commit sin; and they meet together in the grave, where there is no difference; and they will meet at the bar of God at the last day, and in hell, where they will be together for evermore” (John Gill)

The rich may rule over the poor, but the rich are also dependent upon poor, just as the poor are dependent upon the rich. One is serviceable to the other. Neither one can exist without the other. The Godly rich and poor relationship is one of need, trust and respect. It’s a two way street.

God is maker of the rich. God is maker of the poor. We have a station in this life and it is our responsibility to glorify God while in it. Rebelling against the rich is rebellion against God. Oppressing the poor is oppressing God.

To glorify God only when rich, would be to despise Him when poor. The point is not our lot in this life. The point is God. As the Apostle Paul said:

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)

The sin is when, “Some sell their liberty to gratify their luxury.” (Matthew Henry)

Liberty. What is liberty? In the Old Testament liberty is usually a reference to something open, broad and free flowing. The New Testament meaning is usually in regards to being able to do or to not do things having no relationship to salvation. You could sum up liberty as righteous freedom. But the lustful man will trade his liberty for luxury. In context to the rich man, poor man relationship, this means giving up the spiritual, Godly you in trade for a carnal, worldly benefit. This is exactly what the devil first attempted to accomplish with Jesus.

“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Matthew 4:8-10).

The devil attempted to get Jesus to sell His righteous liberty in trade for worldly luxury. What the devil didn’t understand is that the luxuries of this world can’t gratify Jesus. People, not luxuries would gratify Jesus. Restoring their righteousness would gratify Jesus, and the only way to restore the righteousness of His people was through His saving grace. Salvation at the cross was the only way.

Do not misinterpret what is being said. Are rich people of the devil? No, as scripture pointed out, God is maker of both rich and poor. The rich, like the poor, can be either for God or for the devil. It’s a choice, it’s always a choice.

Can a Godly poor person become rich or a Godly rich person become poor? Yes to both.

But the problem with the above questions is that the focus is wrong. The above questions focus on being rich. They focus on luxury. The focus should always be on Christ and His glory. We glorify Jesus by edifying and uplifting our fellow man. All others, especially folks who are not like us should be edified and uplifted, as in the case of the rich and poor. Yes, poor folks are to uplift and edify the rich. The rich folks are to edify and uplift the poor. It’s God’s way.

But we have a very disturbing trend in today’s world. The rich are being hated and reviled. There is an upheaval, an uprising, a ground swell support for a government take-over of the wealthy, to strip the upper income bracket of its money and to redistribute these funds as the government sees fit. This runs counter to the God designed and instituted relationship of rich and poor. Both are necessary. This isn’t a government take-over of the rich and their money. This is an attempted government take-over and replacement of God, His will and design. This is a nation saying no to God, and that never ends well.

This is the work of the devil. It starts by not putting your trust and faith in God. Envy sprouts and takes root. The Godless envy tree grows the fruit of hate. Once that fruit has been tasted, destruction and rebellion are born.

Socialism and Communism are Godless governments, born of envy, brought about by hate and achieved through violence, death and destruction.

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (Psalm 33:12)

“Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34)

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18)

“The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.” (Proverbs 11:3-4)

God made the rich and the poor. God arranged it so that the rich and poor could mutually and amicably, “meet together”. This relationship is natural on the surface, supernatural when you cut it to the core. Don’t rebel against God. Honor Him. Honor God through our righteous relationships. It all boils down to that one simple commandment.

“Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength” and “love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Mark 12:30-31).

We not only love skin color, national origin, gender and such. We are to love the poor and the rich too.

Bill Hitchcock