Proverbs 14:20-21(KJV):

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many
friends.
21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the
poor, happy is he.

Thoughts for the Day

In these verses found in Proverbs, an observation is made as to how the rich

and the poor are treated in this world. Verse 20 tells us that in the world, the
poor are even hated by their own neighbors. This is why there is usually so
much hatred and violence in poor neighborhoods. The Bible calls poverty a
"curse," as it breeds so many other problems. Filth and sickness are just two
of the things that sometimes accompany poverty. When people do not have
enough money to eat properly, this in turn, produces ill health. When poverty
abounds in a region, it becomes demoralizing. People become depressed and
lose hope for a better day. Many come to a place of just not caring any more,
which in turn, breeds irresponsibility. This is the perfect seed bed for
rebellion to grow in. The only way out of the poverty cycle is to give our lives
to God. In this way, we can be redeemed from poverty, as well as all other
things that do not accurately represent our God. God blesses His people when
they follow and obey Him.
Deuteronomy 28:1-6:
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of
the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I
command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all
nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt
hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the
fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when
thou goest out.
We can see from the above verses how much the Lord wants to bless us.
However, if we desire to be blessed, we must have a relationship with the Lord
Jesus Christ so that we are able to keep the commandments of God, with His
strength and power. If we rebel and go our own way, we will find the law of
sowing and reaping will bring a curse upon us. One of those curses is poverty.
The answer to poverty is not money, but a change of heart that comes from
knowing Christ. Our government has discovered that a welfare program of
just throwing money at the problem does not always solve it, but rather
compounds it. Money never solves the root problems in the lives of people, as
it does not overcome hatred, violence, lust, evil, irresponsibility, fear, torment,
etc. The curse continues unless these issues are dealt with.