Understanding Poverty

(Proverbs 28:11 KJV)  The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

This chapter of Proverbs talks about the “poor” (1800b) six times.  Three are just general terms but the other three give us some good insights.

On the negative side we have the nasty poor.

(Proverbs 28:3 KJV)  A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

This person is poor financially but is still an oppressor.  I discussed this HERE.

Twice we have the poor lifted up as examples.  In spite of having little money they have the things that make life worth living.  They walk tall.  They walk in integrity.  God is more concerned with how we deal with our situation than in our bank balance.

(Proverbs 28:6 KJV)  Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Then in this verse we have the poor who have “understanding” (995).  One of the great qualities of our age is that we all have access to education and opportunity.  Don’t let the bleeding hearts tell you otherwise.  We have children in the worst schools who are getting the tools they need and moving on to success.  Even the lowest student has more education than the average upper class member of Solomon’s day.

Understanding doesn’t mean you went to school.  It means you took the tools offered and put them to use.  You made them your own.  When I was a kid my family was poor.  In spite of that my parents bought an encyclopedia set.  On rainy days I used to sit and go through them, looking at the pictures and reading a little bit.  Some people would use them as paper weights or coasters.

So?  You have the opportunity to understand.  You have the tools.  Don’t rely on the preacher or the producer to tell you the truth.  Use the tools that God has given you.  Even if you are poor, you can have understanding.