He who despises his neighbor sins, But happy is he who is gracious to the poor.  Proverbs 14:21

We continue to be counselled here on our attitude and actions toward the poor.  God is truly concerned that we are gracious to the poor, for He Himself was gracious to us when we were poorer than any level of poverty could ever reach.  He granted us His very riches in Christ through the gospel - therefore we too should respond with grace and with mercy to those who have little or nothing around us.

This proverb speaks of those who "despise" their neighbor.  The one who despises his neighbor looks at his poverty and hates it.  He sees no need for mercy or for kindness.  He will most likely point out all the reasons why this one is in poverty - and say that is the reason why he should not do anything for the poor.  While it is true that we need to give to the poor in a way that does not enable them to continue in sin, there is a need for them to receive genuine love and mercy from those who can help them. 

Some despise their poor neighbor because their poverty calls for generosity - and that is hard to have when one is in bondage to a worldview where they are all that matters.  They want much for themselves and therefore to give to another is an unwanted trouble.  Therefore they despise the poor - and refuse to be gracious and give to their neighbor in need.  We are told that such an attitude is sinful.  It misses the mark that God has made for us to hit. 

It is truly important to see the nature and the actions of God to see why this is such a sinful, wicked attitude.  When we refuse to give, we are very much unlike God.  He gives to the poor and to the unfortunate.  As was said at the beginning of this post, God gave His Son for the poorest of all creatures - sinful man.  That should help us understand His basic nature - that He is gracious and giving.  We, therefore, should be gracious and giving as well.  To be and to do anything else is just sinful.

A gracious woman attains honor, And ruthless men attain riches.  Proverbs 11:16

Two types of people are contrasted here.  There is the gracious woman and the ruthless man.  They are viewed from what they attain in life.  The word "attain" is important here for it refers to what a person grasps or holds.  The gracious woman seeks for honor, while the ruthless man is seeking riches. 

The rich man is called "ruthless."  This is the Hebrew word "ariys" which means to be ruthless, strong, and violent.  The word usually refers to a ruler, kind, or master who behaves ruthlessly toward those under him like a tyrant.  This person is insolent, proud, haughty, and violent.  As a result the general attitude toward him by those around him is fear.  This ruthless man does not care about true honor or respect.  He rules by fear, intimidation, and an overpowering hand and demeanor.  What he wants is not repect - but riches.  And what we read here is that he grabs all he can get - and attains those riches.  Anyone who follows politics and those who wield power in the financial world knows that there are a myriad of men who get their riches by less than favorable means.  They dominate others and often do dispicable things.  In the process they get a lot of money.  What is not told often enough is that even though they have the money - they do not have peace, joy - and often cannot sleep because their lack of character costs them dearly.  They wind up as the typical rich, lonely, miserable old man - whose only friends are the sycophantic ones who stay only to feed on the corpses of his corporations and bank accounts.  There is little love lost or tears shed when he dies. 

The gracious woman is seen in stark contrast to this rich, ruthless man.  One of the best pictures of this gracious woman is Ruth.  She faced an uphill battle her entire life.  When her husband died, she was left with nothing - except a sister-in-law who was a widow too - and a mother-in-law whose life was shattered.  Ruth chose to be gracious every step of the way.  Her daily existence in Israel, when they moved back, was spent gleaning in fields that were not hers living on the kindness of others.  In the midst of all this she was the most gracious of women - not complaining of her circumstances or of the back-breaking work she endured for an entire harvest.  She and her mother-in-law endured a very meager existance that entire Fall - yet no griping was heard from Ruth.  She was the picture of a gracious, godly, quiet-spirited woman.  She worked hard and was grateful for everything she received. 

In the end, Ruth was seen as a woman of honor.  Even though she was a foreigner and a Gentile, she was seen in the community as a highly honorable woman.  She followed customs that were not her own - being obedient to a mother-in-law in the process.  Her graciousness was honored in the end though.  She was given a new husband - a godly, wealthy, wonderful man named Boaz.  Although starting at what had to be the very bottom of society in Israel - God gave her honor in two ways.  There was her new husband Boaz - who was a gift from God.  There was even a greater honor - and that was her great grandson.  His name . . . David.  Honor comes to a gracious woman - and that lasts much longer than the riches of the ruthless man.  If you do not believe that - just ask Nabal, the rich farmer or the rich man in the gospels.  Their ruthlessness gained them great riches - for a short season - followed by an eternity in punishment and pain. 

Do not devise harm against your neighbor, While he lives securely beside you.  Do not contend with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm. Proverbs 3:29-30

How are we to treat our neighbor?  Here again we have a couple of verses in Proverbs that help us know how to love our neighbor as ourselves.  This has to do with how we treat neighbors who are living next to us, around us - and who pose no threat to our lives.  The reason for this instruction is to make sure that we truly do love our neighbor and treat them as we would have them treat us.  When someone takes advantage of their neighbor - when that neighbor has done nothing to arouse suspicion or cause harm - there is a total breakdown of trust in a society.  There should be a general safety that exists between neighbors that should make all of us not just feel safe - but actually be safe.  When that general sense of a society governed by the golden rule is gone - that society suffers greatly.

We are told not to devise harm against our neighbor who lives securely along with us in our society.  There should not be any kind of ill will toward our neighbor unless they have done us harm.  Even then we should embrace forgiveness rather than bitterness in our dealings with one another.  In commenting on this verse J. Vernon McGee had this great statement, "In relationship to your neighbor, don't do things that would be to your advantage and his disadvantage.  And don't try to keep up with the Jones by undermining the Joneses." 

Here is the crux of the wisdom that God is offering to us.  When we truly love one another - and care for each other - we will not take advantage of one another nor seek to harm each other.  This is the very core of how societies maintain a sense of well-being amongst the general population.  The best government in any society is self-government.  No human government can offer a sure protection to everyone in its borders.  That would require a police force of millions - and even then you would have to answer tne question of whether you could trust the police.  What is best for any society is self-government according to the Word of God.  This is when the individual takes the responsiblity to govern their own heart according to a moral standard established by God.  When this happens there is no need for a heavy police presence - because each person in the society is watching themselves first - to be sure that they are good citizens. 

When a society degenerates - it always begins with a degeneration of its view of God and practice of His principles on a personal level.  To the extent that we are no longer governed by ourselves and God's Word and Spirit - to that extent society will have to add rules and enforcement officers to try and rein in the wickedness of the human heart.  As the society continues to reject God and His ways, that society will continue to degenerate in how they treat one another.  Laws will eventually be downgraded to allow more and more ungodliness in the society - with the end being that good is called evil and evil is called good.  With each devaluation of God's Law not only will the morals of that society slide, but the sense of safety and well-being will slide along with it. 

When we first read these two verses they seemed almost too simplistic for us.  Yet as we look at the true ramifications of a society with a high level of self-government versus one that has all but abandoned this concept, we suddenly realize the great wisdom of God in what is said here.  This is how to have a peaceful, secure world.  To the extent that we embrace this model - we will have the peace and sense of safety it will provide.  But to the extend that we reject this - to that extent our society will lack safety, will lack peace, but worst of all it will lack among its people the nearness and blessing of God.

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed. Proverbs 19:17

How can anyone ever lend money to God?  That sounds impossible since the Lord owns the cattle on the thousand hills and all the wealth that anyone could ever imagine.  Yet the Scriptures make it clear here that when we are gracious to the poor we are leading to Jehovah.  Let's take a closer look at this - and at the blessing that comes from being gracious and kind to those who are poor. 

When we give to the poor we are being very wise.  We are making an investment that will bless us in the end.  Lending to anyone is a risky endeavor because lending wisely is based on their ability to repay us.  Yet when we are gracious to the poor by giving to them, we are told that we are giving a loan to God.  His ability to repay is infinite - therefore this is an investment that will pay wonderful dividends.  If there were ever a sure bet when it comes to lending policy - this is it.  Being gracious to the poor means showing them mercy.  The idea behind this word is that we are showing a kind act to someone in need.  Since this refers to the poor, the idea of gracious giving is implied.  We read in 1 John that part of the love of God in us is giving to someone who has a need instead of just wishing them well and leaving them to hope for the best. 

The promise here is very clear.  When we are gracious in lending and giving to the poor, we will be repaid from the Lord Himself.  The good deed of giving to the poor is noticed by the Lord.  We are told that the man who is gracious to the poor will be happy (Prov 14:21).  The one generous to the poor by giving him some of his food, God promises will be blessed (Prov 22:9).  We are also told that the one who gives to the poor will never want (Prov 28:27).  These are all very clear promises of God that we should take seriously when we face situations where we can either show mercy upon the poor - or close our hearts to them.  The rich man in the gospels would warn us that shutting our hearts to the poor like Lazarus who sat at his gate is an act that will cost us dearly in the end.  May God give us the wisdom to act on opportunities to provide for the poor.  The benefits of such kindness are beyond our ability to comprehend.  May we abound with such kindness and secure great blessing!

A man's gift makes room for him And brings him before great men. Proverbs 18:16

When one appears before great men, there is a wonderful Asian practice of coming with a gift.  This can be construed as a bribe to some - but that is not how those in Asian culture view it.  They view it as wise and right to bring a gift with you when you come to see someone - and - the greater the person, the more important the gift.  Over the years I have had the privilege and honor to pastor several Chinese and Japanese Christians.  One thing I have seen in their actions is that they will bring me a gift when they come to see me.  For me this is a precious thing - and it is also humbling.  Their gifts are never something casual or thoughtless.  They always take the time to consider what I might enjoy - and they delight in giving it. 

This proverb is trying to get us to see the value in being generous with others.  We will never be the poorer for genuinely giving gifts of love and respect to others.  We will also benefit from seeing the value of letting those in important positions know that we both respect them and value what they can contribute to our lives.  This is why we read that this gift will both make room for us and bring us before great men. 

An example of this was how the Queen of Sheba came before Solomon.  She sought an audience with the king.  When she came she brought a huge gift - involving spices, a special type of wood, and other very valuable items.  She came with these things to receive Solomon's wisdom - and to see this great king of which she had heard.  What is interesting is the practice of the noble men and women who receive such people who come with thoughtful gifts.  Solomon first answered all her questions - leaving her breathless as she heard him and saw his court.  But we read at the close of the passage that she left receiving more than she had given.  The kings and rulers of the East were given to their liberality in response to the graciousness of others.  The Queen of Sheba left with more than she gave.  This is a type as well for us of how we come before God.  We may come giving liberally - but we leave far wealthier than we came.  We receive the graciousness of our Lord and King - and the level of blessing which He can grant.  That, dear friends is amazing - but often that kind of display is reserved for those who first show respect, honor, and an open hand in how they give to the Lord of all.  May our level of giving never hinder us from blessing, but release it gloriously into our lives.  

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him. Proverbs 27:14

Ah, we come to the proverb written to remind morning people like myself that not everyone else is a morning person.  It is also written to remind us that some wake up and become conscious at a much slower rate than others.  This also means that they are far more sensitive to sound and obnoxious morning people than we who are the obnoxious morning people realize.  Thus, for the sake of their early morning sanity - as well as for the sake of our susceptibility to being hit by a accurately thrown alarm clock - it is wise for us to be gracious to the non-morning person. 

This proverb really has special meaning to me.  I am what is called a "disgusting morning person."  That is the person who doesn't just wake up early in the morning - but - who can wake up and within about 30 seconds be in a good mood, whistling as I walk down the hallway to the kitchen.  This trait, although a blessing to me, is viewed by the typical non-morning person as - well - as what Proverbs says it is here - a curse. 

Yes, I've been guilty of awakening the members of my very patient family with my loudness in the morning hours.  I've learned that the following actions are not welcome in the morning.  Singing in the shower - especially the happy type of songs I tend to sing at that hour of the morning.  Awakening people with the statement, "Rise and shine!"  Being incredulous that everyone else in the house does not awaken with a spring in their step.  Walking with "said springy step" down the hallway (which has wooden floors) with any kind of shoes that make noise.  Any whistling whatsoever - before the second coming of Christ.  I jest about these things because they've been brought up at least 10 times by those around me.  I was once labeled by the sweetest lady I've ever known besides my wife - as the loudest man in the world in the mornings. 

The wisdom in this proverb is for those of us who are morning people - and for those who wake up first in a household - as well as amongst friends.  It has to do with being considerate and courteous.  When we act like this early in the morning - we are being rude to those who do not wake up early.  Just as we who rise early would not appreciate someone playing loud music and stomping around the house past midnight (for me past about 10:30 p.m.) because it would keep us awake, so our counterparts who are night owls do not appreciate us not just rising with the early bird, but trying to outsing him before the sun rises.  It is just a matter of kindness and good manners. 

The guy we wake up with a loud voice - even if we are speaking a blessing - will not appeciate our "Sally-sunshine" comments.  We are to live iwth others according to THEIR need - not our desire.  Learning this wisdom will save you from a myriad of problems - not just with non-morning people - but with anyone who is not exactly like you.