Proverbs 14:20
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour:
But the rich hath many friends.
This proverb is rich in perspectives. One of them, in its literal sense, is really a testament to the dark side of human nature. We should take notice of it and not give more value to the friendships of our comfortable days than is meet. We should not be surprised to see all our ‘friends’ disappear when the well is dry and the party is over. Penury is a great relationship sifter: those who stay with us through it are the real friends.
Another perspective lays in the realm of spiritual values. I have heard it said that the real true rich person is not the one who can spend a lot, but the one who has everything he needs and is satisfied. I have also heard it said that wealth is not to be counted by what a person has but by what a person gives.
Viewed in that light, I dare submit that such a person has many true friends. A person who is content and satisfied from the inside out is agreeable to be around. Such a person does not whine always wishing for more and for better days. Such a person doesn’t feel the need to hoard and is not afraid to share of themselves with others. Let us not forget that contentment and satisfaction are a state of mind, not a financial achievement.
As disciples of the Master, we claim to have found the pearl of great price. We claim that we have found that wealth that is more precious than anything else, but yet, we often seem to act like beggars or people who have been cheated of the best. Doesn’t that sound like the Children of Israel in the desert? They were fed with food from heaven; their water came from the Everlasting Rock; their clothes and shoes never wore out; they were carried on eagle’s wing and yet, they complained about their condition. Do we really value what we have? Do we really need more and better than what He, in His great wisdom has decided to give us?
They say that the worlds financial systems failed because of greed. Does our option to happiness fail because of greed? In these times of financial uncertainty we should reevaluate these things in our hearts and make sure that we don’t repeat history on our own lives.
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour:
But the rich hath many friends.
This proverb is rich in perspectives. One of them, in its literal sense, is really a testament to the dark side of human nature. We should take notice of it and not give more value to the friendships of our comfortable days than is meet. We should not be surprised to see all our ‘friends’ disappear when the well is dry and the party is over. Penury is a great relationship sifter: those who stay with us through it are the real friends.
Another perspective lays in the realm of spiritual values. I have heard it said that the real true rich person is not the one who can spend a lot, but the one who has everything he needs and is satisfied. I have also heard it said that wealth is not to be counted by what a person has but by what a person gives.
Viewed in that light, I dare submit that such a person has many true friends. A person who is content and satisfied from the inside out is agreeable to be around. Such a person does not whine always wishing for more and for better days. Such a person doesn’t feel the need to hoard and is not afraid to share of themselves with others. Let us not forget that contentment and satisfaction are a state of mind, not a financial achievement.
As disciples of the Master, we claim to have found the pearl of great price. We claim that we have found that wealth that is more precious than anything else, but yet, we often seem to act like beggars or people who have been cheated of the best. Doesn’t that sound like the Children of Israel in the desert? They were fed with food from heaven; their water came from the Everlasting Rock; their clothes and shoes never wore out; they were carried on eagle’s wing and yet, they complained about their condition. Do we really value what we have? Do we really need more and better than what He, in His great wisdom has decided to give us?
They say that the worlds financial systems failed because of greed. Does our option to happiness fail because of greed? In these times of financial uncertainty we should reevaluate these things in our hearts and make sure that we don’t repeat history on our own lives.
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