Poor Excuse

(Proverbs 14:21 KJV)  He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Today as I read I noticed that this verse is a follow up of verse 20. 

(Proverbs 14:20 KJV)  The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

Notice that the same actors are on stage in both verses.  This is a statement of Christian attitude and character.  It is a matter of the heart as much as the actions.  We cannot be looking down on anyone, specially those we consider below us.

Here it mentions the “poor” (6035).  I have a problem with this when I see people on government assistance.  Something in me rebels.  My mind starts to close and I make a lot of assumptions.  It might even be that some of those assumptions are true.  All of them might be true.  When we make decisions we need to act on them if they are true but the glory of our faith is that we can do what is best for people, even when it is painful, and still not “despise” (936) them.

So?  It does not say we need to like everybody.  It does say that we are to treat them with an attitude of courtesy.  Love means doing for people what is best for them, not what we want or what they want.  There is a difference.