Good morning. I find joy in knowing you’re still reading along with me. I realize not all of my viewpoints will resonate with everyone—and that’s alright. Differences in non-salvational doctrine enrich our understanding and allow space for healthy debate.
In today’s divided world, disagreement is often mistaken for hatred. But that’s not accurate. Today’s reading from Proverbs 20–22 may be one of those passages that challenges us and invites deeper reflection.
Justice and the Poor at the City Gate
Solomon begins a series of thirty wisdom sayings in Proverbs 22, and the second one struck me deeply:
“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court.” — Proverbs 22:22, NIV
This isn’t just poetic insight—it’s a practical warning. In ancient Israel, judges heard legal cases at the gate. The poor, lacking resources and legal counsel, could Solomon aimed to protect the vulnerable from injustice.be taken advantage of. Even today, we see how wealth can leverage the legal system, though modern headlines often reflect rich vs. rich conflicts. Solomon aimed to protect the vulnerable from injustice.
Who Are the Poor?
Much modern debate centers on how to care for those in poverty. Should this fall to government? The Church? Individual responsibility? These are valid questions—and Scripture speaks to them.
At one time, my family lived out of our car. Later, I ate at soup kitchens and relying on disability benefits after a serious accident. Though Government assistance helped, I returned to the workforce as soon as I could.
It reminds me of Proverbs 20:4:
“Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.” (NIV)
It’s easy to misinterpret this as a blanket statement about laziness. Having lived it, I’ll tell you—being poor is hard work. It takes effort to survive without the structure most of society depends on. And yes, some choose that life. I’ve met them.
An Unexpected Friendship and Honest Truths
One night while performing at a nightclub, I was struggling to haul equipment with my cane. A young man offered help. Pride once would’ve prevented me from accepting, but I welcomed it.
He helped frequently and became a friend. He slept on a park bench. One rainy night, I offered him a spare room. He stayed a week. I offered him a job where I worked—he declined. He earned $75 a day panhandling and didn’t want confining responsibility.
This man was intelligent and hard-working—he lived differently. His priorities weren’t mine. I had alarm clocks and bills; he preferred freedom and uncertainty.
Faith, Work, and Discernment
Though I was an atheist, my upbringing instilled strong values. My mother often quoted, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” While not a biblical proverb, it echoes truths found in Proverbs 20:13:
“Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” (NIV)
But discernment is key. Some suffer temporarily—others choose their path long term. We must be careful in how we judge:
“Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.” (Proverbs 21:4, NIV)
And Solomon reminds us:
“Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor will also cry out and not be answered.” (Proverbs 21:13, NIV)
Made by the Same Maker
Whether poverty is a consequence of tragedy or lifestyle, the call to love and serve remains. We must ask: Is this someone God has placed in our path to bless and to draw closer to Christ?
“Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all.” (Proverbs 22:2, NIV)
Refusing to help the poor sometimes means we miss what God wants to do in us.
“The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9, NIV)
So let’s pray for wisdom—to know who to help and how best to serve. Not every situation is the same, but every person matters.
