Can You Spare Me a Dime

(Pro 19:7 KJV) All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.

My impression is that the Bible tells us to care for the weak and helpless.  I would think that would include our “friends” (4828), but this runs counter to that.  I am guessing that one reason for the difference is that we know our friends well enough to judge their needs.  Strangers are different.  They could be genuine or frauds.  Those who are involved in our lives are more of an open book to us.

Another difference is that they are in a position to “pursue” (7291).  This has all of the meanings, good and bad, of someone hounding you.  They keep coming.  They are hard to get away from.  

So?  Perhaps this is a reminder that we should not be always hitting up relatives for hand outs and loans.  Keep in mind that they know us well enough to give us some advice we don’t want.