TLIC Family. PROVERBS. SEPTEMBER 2: RICH AND POOR.

THINK TOGETHER.

Are you rich or poor?

READ TOGETHER

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

God made everyone. God made everyone in his image. That means that everyone has the same value and worth. Solomon is teaching his children this valuable lesson – never judge or value someone based on how rich or poor they are. In God’s eyes earthly wealth does not matter. He loves everyone the same and so should we.

The book of James in the New Testament teaches us this same exact lesson. Listen to how James talks about how we should treat the rich and the poor:

James 2:1-5. ¹My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. ²For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly [church], and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, ³and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” ⁴have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? ⁵Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?

James says that Christians should show no partiality. What do you think that means? What does partiality look like in your church? School? Team? In Jesus everyone has the same worth. In fact, often the poor have more faith and are growing closer to Jesus than the rich are. Why? Because to really love and trust Jesus you have to know that you need him. The poor are more likely to see their neediness than the rich. We all must see that without Jesus we are spiritually poor and can never save ourselves.

Because of Jesus there is no partiality with God.

With Jesus we can treat everyone the same.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Is there someone in your church, school, or team that you’ve ignored because they are poor, or just different? How can you “show no partiality” instead?

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, help me to see the value of every person and to love every person the same, knowing that you loved me when I was poor and needy. Amen.