Proverbs 22:2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. I. VARIOUS WAYS IN WHICH RICH AND POOR CANNOT AVOID MEETING TOGETHER. 1. They belong to the same creation. They meet together, then, as brethren — "all one Man's sons," who will have His children live together in unity. 2. They are placed together by their common Maker in the same world, and in a state of necessary dependence on each other. 3. Although there is a wide separation between rich and poor in point of education, habits, and manners, yet these outward differences are as nothing in comparison with their common nature, to which they bear the same relation as the clothes to the body. View them in regard to their natural appetites, bodily and mental capacities, social and domestic affections; in all these things they meet together as equals, and we plainly see that one "Lord is the Maker of them all." 4. If now, dismissing worldly considerations, we contemplate them as they must appear to their Maker, we shall see the distance between them absolutely vanish, and nothing to prevent their meeting together on a footing of perfect equality. All souls are alike, and religion addresses itself to all alike. 5. Rich and poor, thus meeting together in the enjoyment of the same Christian privileges, should also meet together in the exhibition of a renewed heart and a gracious character, the fruits of a common faith. II. EXHORT BOTH RICH AND POOR TO A VOLUNTARY MEETING OF EACH OTHER; not only as being brought together by the appointment of Providence, but as seeking and making advances towards each other. 1. It is not enough that the rich should not oppress the poor; thanks to the equity of our laws, this is not to any serious extent in their power; nor that they should not despise the poor, which we hope is not in their inclination; but the rich must protect and assist and honour and sympathise with their poorer brethren. 2. But if it be the duty of the rich thus to meet the poor, it is no less incumbent on the poor to make advances towards the rich, and "meet them half-way." (J. H. Burn, B.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.WEB: The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all. |
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