”The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: But the rich hath many friends.“
Proverbs 14:20
A quick translation: A Person who is in need, or lacks, is the enemy of his friend.
What a weird statement. Why are these friends or neighbors enemies? It could be because they are competing for the same resources. Perhaps they have a similar mindset and see the other as a competitor instead of an opportunity for growth. They may even see the other as an opportunity to take from so they can have more.
To contrast, the Person that has enough has many friends or people they love.
What a powerful way to contrast poor and rich. One is hated by contemporaries one is loved by them. Perhaps we should put ourselves in a position to add to our friends lives so we have more people we influence positively.
This thought process is carried in the next verse:
”He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: But he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.“
Proverbs 14:21
We will begin by defining some of the words in this passage:
Despiseth- to despise, hold in contempt, one contended with(as in an enemy we fight against).
Neighbor- friend, companion, fellow, another person, an intimate, also as a friend, brother, spouse or lover.
Sinneth- to miss the mark. To be guilty, to go the wrong way.
Mercy- to be gracious, to show favor, in essence the word picture we see painted is that of kneeling down to give a helping hand to someone that has fallen.
Poor- poor, afflicted, humbled, wretched, needy, weak.
Happy- happiness, blessed.
When these concepts are combined in order the idea constructed can look something like this:
The person that contends with or holds in contempt his fellow or brother or spouse or lover is missing the mark and going the wrong way: But the person who is gracious and kneels down to offer a helping hand to the fellow-brother-spouse-lover which is afflicted or humbled or wretched or needy or weak, will be blessed and happy.
This can be a picture of what the Almighty did for us. He has mercy on us to redeem us to himself. It makes a great love story and endears us to those around us.
Think of how you would love and trust a friend that would go through the fire to rescue you.
AND, going through the fire for others may one day help you get rescued.
On another note, if we despise our fellow-brother-spouse-lover when they fall we miss the mark and go the wrong way; This is selfishness. Selfishness separates and destroys relationships. Therefore, if you want to continue the relationship have mercy, if you want to destroy the relationship, be selfish.
After explaining Proverbs 14:21, you should go back and re-read the passage from Proverbs 14:20. It may enlighten you in a different way.
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