Roughly in the Middle

(Proverbs 18:23 KJV)  The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

This is an observation about how things often are rather than a recommendation of how things should be.  The obvious statement about the “poor” (7326) and the “rich” (6223) brings to mind people and experiences we all are familiar with.

Since I am a part of that great American middle class I am caught in the middle.  So I start thinking about applications like the preacher I have been.

The context is obviously about financial wealth but what happens if we apply this to other types of wealth?  Today let me focus on health since that is on my mind right now.  My brother and I both have diabetes.  We have both lost weight.  Neither of us sits at a desk all day but neither of us are athletes.  There are so many things that a similar and yet we are different.  I am off all medication and all my blood measurements are in the normal range.  He is on increasing levels of medication and seems to be on that gradual decline that diabetics fear so much.  I am rich and he is poor. 

My responsibility is to not be a rich man who “answers” (6030a) “roughly” (5794).  It is so easy to get into lecture mode and feel superior even when we know it is not because of some shining virtue in our lives.  We love to lord it over people.  We are told that is not acceptable.  Remember the words of the Love Chapter:

(1 Corinthians 13:4 KJV)  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

So?  You have some area of your life in which you are rich.  Look for it and make sure that in that area of your life you are being kind, unvaunted and un puffed.