“The poor are shunned by all their relatives— how much more do their friends avoid them! Though the poor pursue them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.”
I didn’t like reading this verse at first. I just didn’t want it to be true at face value. It stings a bit even though I don’t believe it’s true in my families case. That may be because we are all safely middle class. I’m also not sure what kind of friend is avoiding their poor friend who is pleading for help. Not much of a “friend” by any definition I’m familiar with at least. There are a lot of different ways theologians go with this verse. Some believe it implies the man was previously wealthy and having lost his fortune finds his family and friends, formerly very open to him, now turning from and ignoring him. Others believe this is pieces of two separate proverbs by Solomon. Whatever the case, it is clear that those he presumed were closest and a potential life line in difficult circumstances are not. In a day when the church receives a lot of blame for being insensitive to the needs of our culture I find it heartening to see the real Body of Christ (The Church) hard at work meeting those needs. Many who find former family and friends abandoning them at the darkest times of their lives find the church waiting for them with open arms. Ready to feed, clothe, provide shelter and counseling. The church is often the first on the scene and the only real place these people can turn. Loving and serving unconditionally is Jesus’ distinctive fleshed out by His people. By the way, this is not new. The church has always been quietly there. Today ask your King how you can serve those His heart breaks for. #BeTheEdge
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Jesus
