WISDOM'S JOURNEY: How do you handle the humble request? Proverbs 18:23
How do you handle the humble request?
TODAY'S PROVERB: The poor request favor, but the rich answer harshly. Proverbs 18:23
Today's proverb brought to my imagination a scene.
A thin man in clean, but frayed clothing stands before a corpulent man in an expensive business suit. The thin man has waited patiently for hours to speak with the business man in hopes that his story will find favor in the wealthy man's eyes.
The rich man sits behind a large mahogany desk that costs more than what the poor man made in a year. As the man approaches he thanks the business man for the opportunity. The business man waves a jeweled hand and nods.
As the poor man speaks of his sick wife and three young children, the wealthy man looks with disdain upon the sad figure of a man before him. How could he not take care of his own family? What unwise decision had he made to arrive at such a sorry state?
It mattered not that the poor man works hard, or that the circumstances are dire, the rich man can only hear the request for help--the weakness.
The wealthy man interrupts the poor man's humble plea with a harsh lecture and then denies any assistance--for his own good.
Sound melodramatic? Actually variations of this scene happen around the world. We know there is need in 3rd World countries, but there is also need in our own congregations.
I think it's easier to judge folks we know rather than the sad faces of children on television. Giving to worthy organizations that help the poor is a good thing. But to ignore those who sit next to us is a harsh response.
Jesus said the poor would always be with us, but folks sometimes forget what else he said: "For you always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want..." (Mark 14:7) Whenever we want...
Yeshua surrounded Himself with those who had need--it was why He came. He loved on them. Provided for them. Taught them.
I think passages like today's proverb remind us that those who seek favor with humility should be given it, as GOD leads us. It's the Father's heart. It's how He answers our humble plea.
May we have the Father's heart, my friends.
Proverbs 18:23, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV, #tlvbible #tlvproverbs
[WATCH MONDAY through FRIDAY LIVE at 8:30EST, Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with the book of Proverbs. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
Today's proverb brought to my imagination a scene.
A thin man in clean, but frayed clothing stands before a corpulent man in an expensive business suit. The thin man has waited patiently for hours to speak with the business man in hopes that his story will find favor in the wealthy man's eyes.
The rich man sits behind a large mahogany desk that costs more than what the poor man made in a year. As the man approaches he thanks the business man for the opportunity. The business man waves a jeweled hand and nods.
As the poor man speaks of his sick wife and three young children, the wealthy man looks with disdain upon the sad figure of a man before him. How could he not take care of his own family? What unwise decision had he made to arrive at such a sorry state?
It mattered not that the poor man works hard, or that the circumstances are dire, the rich man can only hear the request for help--the weakness.
The wealthy man interrupts the poor man's humble plea with a harsh lecture and then denies any assistance--for his own good.
Sound melodramatic? Actually variations of this scene happen around the world. We know there is need in 3rd World countries, but there is also need in our own congregations.
I think it's easier to judge folks we know rather than the sad faces of children on television. Giving to worthy organizations that help the poor is a good thing. But to ignore those who sit next to us is a harsh response.
Jesus said the poor would always be with us, but folks sometimes forget what else he said: "For you always have the poor with you, and you can do good for them whenever you want..." (Mark 14:7) Whenever we want...
Yeshua surrounded Himself with those who had need--it was why He came. He loved on them. Provided for them. Taught them.
I think passages like today's proverb remind us that those who seek favor with humility should be given it, as GOD leads us. It's the Father's heart. It's how He answers our humble plea.
May we have the Father's heart, my friends.
Proverbs 18:23, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV, #tlvbible #tlvproverbs
[WATCH MONDAY through FRIDAY LIVE at 8:30EST, Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with the book of Proverbs. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
Comments
Post a Comment