Title

Do Not Judge The Poor

Scripture
He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
(Proverbs 17:5)
Devotional
Proverbs furthermore says, "A proud and haughty man—‘Scoffer’ is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.”[1] This is the description of the man or woman who derides those who have not achieved a level of accomplishment equal to their measure. Likewise our text defines those who take pleasure in the calamity of others. These are those who exult themselves by the misfortunes of others thinking that their calamity is to their blame. And they believe that because calamity or poverty has evaded themselves that they must be more righteous than they. Let us not be like the Pharisee who boasts saying, “I thank God that I am not like other men.” But let us be like the tax collector who beat his breast saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner.[2] When we see the misfortune of others let us say, “There, but by the grace of God goeth I.


[1] Proverbs 21:24
[2] Luke 18:11-13