There Is Poor, and Then There Is Poor

(Proverbs 31:20 KJV)  She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

Solomon continues to list the qualities of a “virtuous woman” of the KJV or the “excellent wife” of the NASB.  These qualities should be reflected in all of our lives, not be used to club our wives. 

There are several different words used for “poor” (6041) in Proverbs.  This one is for the poor of the poor.  This refers to those who are not only out of funds but have been beaten down by life.  These are the defeated.  To these people the believer “stretcheth” (extends NASB) (6566) the “hand” (3027) of encouragement, counsel and comfort.  These people don’t need money.  They are beyond that.

This kind of help takes more time than giving a few bucks.  It requires us to invest our lives and give up our leisure.  It means taking someone to a job interview and sitting with them in the waiting room and offering a final “‘at-a-boy” as they head through the door.  It costs us in a way that has no dollar signs.

So?  Don’t give in to the temptation to just give someone on the corner a dollar.  Take them through the door, buy them some food, sit down and talk.  If they are not interested in that then maybe you can find someone better to invest in.