1.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2.
The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
THE MAKER OF HIGH AND LOW
‘The rich and poor meet together: the Lord is the Maker of them all.’
Proverbs 22:2
I. ‘The Lord is the Maker of them all.’—The God who creates light and darkness has created the happy and the wretched; there is no escape from this, if we believe in God at all. He cannot have created the human race and then have left it alone to rush into a social chaos and confusion of itself. Meantime we believe that the hand of God is upon all them for good that seek Him; though He gives grief, yet will He have compassion, according to the multitude of His mercies.
II. Read by the light of the Gospel, the text puts on another meaning.—The rich and poor are brethren. The feelings and interests which they have in common are far more weighty than those outward circumstances that divide them. In the pages of the New Testament we read a recognition of the rights of the poor. Rich and poor are equal when they stand at the foot of the Redeemer’s Cross craving pardon for their sins; seeking His righteousness to cover their uncleanness. They are equal when they come before God to worship. They are equal when both shall stand before the judgment-seat of the Lord to give an account of all things done in the body.
—Archbishop Thomson.
Illustration
‘In the presence of God distinctions between rich and poor vanish. The true wealth lies in humility and the fear of God. Poor Lazarus may lie at the door of Dives, but in the morning of heaven the poor rule over the rich. Wealth is specially blessed when it is connected with the bountiful eye and prodigal hand.’
3.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
5.
Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
6.
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7.
The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8.
He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10.
Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11.
He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12.
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
13.
The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14.
The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15.
Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16.
He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17.
Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
18.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
19.
That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
20.
Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21.
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22.
Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23.
For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24.
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25.
Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26.
Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27.
If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.