Proverbs 14.19
“The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.”
This is another Proverb that speaks from a strategic perspective. It addresses what is true “in the long run.” The basic message is that good / righteous people are much better off than evil / wicked people. In the long run, the latter find themselves in a subservient position to the former.
Many biblical stories support this principle. Joseph was godly but was persecuted and abused by his brothers, eventually being thrown into prison for his righteous behavior. However, by the end of the story, Joseph is in a position of influence so that he can save his family for the covenant promise.
At the beginning of the book of Esther, Mordecai finds himself persecuted by Haman. However, by the end a reversal takes place so that wicked Haman finds himself at the mercy of godly Mordecai.
Proverbs 14.20
“The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, but the rich has many friends.”
This proverb contrasts the social impoverishment of the poor to the social benefits of the rich, and presents a hard, unattractive truth about human nature. People tend to show favoritism to the wealthy, and they tend to be dismissive of the poor.
The book of James makes it very clear that favoritism based on social status is not the way of the kingdom of God.
“My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and 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,” have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2.1-4)
The point is not that the rich are categorically bad and the poor categorically good. There are wealthy people who are godly and poor people who are not. James’ point is that any judgments based on outward factors alone are wrong judgments, because they do not discern the heart. Only God can judge the heart, and we are wrong to usurp his place as judge.
James is very direct when he says that to favor the wealthy and powerful is to “make distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts.” The reference to “judges with evil thoughts” is a critique of motive, and it cuts to the heart of a prevalent human tendency to be image-conscious and self-centered.
People like to be associated with the wealthy and powerful and famous for two basic reasons: 1) They think it makes them look special by association. They think it enhances their image. 2) They hope to gain some benefit through their association with the wealthy or famous.
These are the “evil thoughts” that James is talking about.
Our motive for associating with people, especially in the church, should be fellowship and service, not image and benefit. We live in a culture that idolizes celebrities in sports and business and entertainment and politics. In some circumstances, a certain degree of admiration and respect is justified, but James isn’t talking about that; he is talking about partiality and favoritism.
James describes a scenario: A poor person comes into the fellowship. Not a person of notoriety or wealth, just a poor person with shabby clothing. How do we see that person? How do we respond to their presence? Do we treat them as special? Do we look at them as someone loved by the living God, and do we show them that love?
The human tendency, of course, is to see the poor person in shabby clothing as nothing special, and maybe even someone who annoys us or makes us uncomfortable or is the subject of whispered comments and gossip. And we certainly don’t “benefit” from the presence of the poor. They don’t enhance our image, and they can’t give much to our cause or agenda.
But then a wealthy person comes into the fellowship. Sharply dressed, obviously successful, well connected, maybe even well known. How do we see that person? How do we respond to their presence? Our comments about the presence of the rich or famous are quite different than our comments about the poor, and it reveals something about the condition of our hearts. “Did you see who is here today? Wow, that is cool!”
Do we treat the rich and famous as somehow more special? Do we give them an extra measure of God’s love? If that is how we think, it is wrong judgment, and it is evil. Romans 2:11 says it with clarity and brevity: “God shows no partiality.”
In many ways, I think, the Christian community needs to rediscover what it means to really love people. We need a renewal of the heart so that we see people the way the Lord sees them, and love people the way the Lord calls us to love them.
Proverbs 14.21 summarizes it: “Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.”
