Skip to main content

THE RICH AND THE POOR

THE DAILY FOUNTAIN DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE OF THE CHURCH OF NIGERIA (ANGLICAN COMMUNION)

DATE: MONDAY, 17TH OCTOBER, 2022 

TOPIC: THE RICH AND THE POOR

TEXT: PROVERBS 14:31- 15:17

31.  He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.
32.  The wicked is banished in his wickedness, But the righteous has a refuge in his death.
33.  Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, But [what is] in the heart of fools is made known.
34.  Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin [is] a reproach to [any] people.
35.  The king's favor [is] toward a wise servant, But his wrath [is against] him who causes shame.
36. A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
37. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
38. The eyes of the LORD [are] in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
39. A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
40.  A fool despises his father's instruction, But he who receives correction is prudent.
41.  [In] the house of the righteous [there is] much treasure, But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.
42.  The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, But the heart of the fool [does] not [do] so.
43.  The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD, But the prayer of the upright [is] His delight.
44.  The way of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD, But He loves him who follows righteousness.
45.  Harsh discipline [is] for him who forsakes the way, [And] he who hates correction will die.
46.  Hell and Destruction [are] before the LORD; So how much more the hearts of the sons of men.
47.  A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise.
48.  A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
49.  The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
50.  All the days of the afflicted [are] evil, But he who is of a merry heart [has] a continual feast.
51.  Better [is] a little with the fear of the LORD, Than great treasure with trouble.
52.  Better [is] a dinner of herbs where love is, Than a fatted calf with hatred.

MESSAGE: 
Solomon in today's passage, talks about the relationship expected between the rich and the poor and the end result. The rich who tolerates the poor is considered righteous while the one who oppresses the poor is classified wicked. It is important to understand from the scripture that God created both the rich and the poor. So the poor deserve equal treatment as the rich. Therefore, the poor should not be oppressed. 
     
Anyone who oppresses the poor reproaches God (v.31). And anyone who reproaches God is considered the wicked who live without hope after death. It is the righteous that have hope of resurrection when they die. It is proper we know that human status in life is determined by God. The poor is neither inferior to the rich, nor the rich superior to the poor. They are both God’s handiwork so we should not allow sentiments to rule over our minds while treating issues relating to both. The rich deserve a fair hearing, so do the poor. Therefore, they should be treated equally so that God will not be reproached.

THOUGHT: 
Are you ready to speak for the poor, even in the face of fat brown envelope?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CHURCH OF NIGERIA ELECTS NEW BISHOPS AND ONE ARCHBISHOP

The Episcopal synod of the church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has elected six new Bishops, and one Archbishop. The election which took place at the Basilica of Grace Apo, Gudu district in the Diocese of Abuja on Thursday October 29, 2009 has the following:- The Rt. Rev. Friday John Imaekhai Bishop, Diocese of Esan, Elected: - Archbishop of Bendel to replace The Primate elect, The Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh The very Rev. Ralph Ebirien of St Stephen’s Cathedral Bonny Elected: - Bishop of Niger Delta Diocese The Venerable Ezekiel Bolarinde Dahunsi of Church of Pentecost FESTAC Lagos Elected: - Bishop Diocese of Ido- Ani The Rev. Canon Justus Emeka Mogekwu of St. Paul’s Kakuri, Kaduna Elected:-Bishop Diocese of Asaba to replace Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh. The Venerable (Prof.) Dapo Folorunso Asaju of the chapel of Light, Lagos (LASU) Elected:-Bishop for Theological Education in the office of the Primate The Venerable James Olaoti Akinola of St. James Iludun Oro, Kwara S
Post a Comment
Read more

EXCERPTS FROM: 24/7 WARFARE PRAYERS AND SUPERNATURAL BREAKTHROUGH MANUAL

INTRODUCTION Right from childhood, the number “SEVEN” has always been an intrigue, an interesting puzzle, a fascination, and a great phenomenon to me. I was actually born on the seventh day of the month; perhaps this was one of the reasons why something leaps inside of me whenever I see the number. But as I grew up in the Christian faith I began to see a regular reference to it the scriptures. I was kind of saying, whoa! Holy bliss! Seven occurs 257 times, or 7 × 41 Seventh, the fractional part occurs 98 times or 7× 14 Seven –fold occurs 7 times. Seventy occurs 56 times or 7× 8 “Seventy” in combination with other numbers occurs 35 times or 7× 5. God is pleased to stamp the number “Seven” with the seal of perfection and completeness. God never down played the importance of the number, because it was the number of God. It is a carrier of God’s mysteries. It pleased God that, the Seventh man from Adam – Enoch sh
Post a Comment
Read more

FIVE NEW FULL FLEDGED ANGLICAN DIOCESES

Five new Dioceses have been created in the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion. The Church's official website - http://www.anglican-nig.org/main.php?k_j=12&d=352&p_t=index.php? posted the information thus: The Standing Committee Meeting of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion has approved the creation of five new full fledged Dioceses at their meeting at the Cathedral Church of St. Stephen’s Umuahia, Abia State. They are Shendam Diocese carved out of Langtang Diocese, Plateau state, Ido-Ani Diocese from present Owo Diocese, in Ondo state, Igbomina West from Igbomina Diocese,Kwara state, Ilesha North East from Ilesha in Osun state and Ijebu South West from Ijebu Diocese in Ogun state. At the presentation, the head of the Committee responsible for creation of new Dioceses, the most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa Archbishop Ibadan Province and Bishop of Ibadan who led a team of four assured the house that the stage is set and the New Dioceses have met all the requirements for creation
Post a Comment
Read more