“An unlucky loser is shunned by all, But everyone loves a winner. It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, But compassion for the poor what a blessing. Proverbs

Gordon McCallum once issued a challenge he called the 30-day shred challenge. It may sound similar to a weight loss kind of contest, but this one was a competition to see who could read the bible from cover to cover in record time. 30 days.

Obviously, that's no easy task- which is probably why I'm still 15 pounds overweight because my level of commitment clearly isn't high enough. I thought it was an interesting concept so I decided to do the Bible in 90 days using the Youversion Bible app.

The other day, I was reading Proverbs and came across the following verse: "It is a sin to belittle one's neighbor." This really resonated with me because even though I had read it before, I never heard it quite like that. Maybe it was because I grew up reading the Bible version that says "Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner." I don't think I ever despised anyone, so maybe I always felt pretty safe. Specific to this verse, at least. In other areas of my life, maybe not so much -- but really, when it comes to this particular verse, I didn't think there was anyone alive that I despised.

This new reading of the proverb says to not belittle others, so I must think about the context surrounding it. This line is included as part of a larger saying that goes: "The poor are despised even by their neighbours, while the rich have many 'friends'." So then the next lines say it's sinful to belittle those around us and blessed are those who help the poor. Again, I don't think I actually despise poor people... but maybe this is something I should explore deeper and ask myself how this applies to me specifically. 

I am not an expert in the Bible or ancient Hebrew, but I know that people who dedicate their lives to translating it work hard to provide accurate interpretations of the meaning. So, I looked up a few other versions like the English Standard Version (ESV) and NIV. Maybe you don't care about this information, but I find it helpful. Another interpretation that I enjoy is The Message, which tries to interpret both words and context into something meaningful for our current society and culture. It goes like this

An unlucky loser is shunned by all, But everyone loves a winner. It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, But compassion for the poor what a blessing.

What does it mean to despise someone?

That's a pretty strong word and Merriam Webster defines it as "to look down on with disrespect or aversion. or to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful.

What does it mean to belittle someone?

Again, Merriam Webster defines "To speak slightingly of:Disparage, To cause a person to seem little or less. It is interesting to note that the tactic of belittling someone is really an attempt to control or manipulate them. 

Who are the poor?

When I look at who I think is poor I recognize this can be a very subjective term and our interpretation could be largely swayed by our personal bias but in this context it appears the poor would be anyone who has lost something and very broadly someone in need. 

Who are the Rich?

Again we could use our own subjective definition but I would like to offer that many of us who live in Canada are what the majority of the world would consider rich. We could also say the Rich are those who think they are entitled. A term I have heard used for some of the younger generations but our reality is it is easy to get accustomed to our comfortable lifestyle and to mistake what I am privileged to have for something I have a right to. 

This is the difficult part of these thoughts. I have to ask myself, we all should ask our-self, If this is true, how does it change the way I act toward my fellow human? 

Personally, I can think of a lot of places where I can do better. Particularly when it comes to our discussions and actions on pandemics, mandates, politics, indigenous people issues, racial tensions, Mental Health, and homelessness.

There would be lots more that could be said on these issues but the clearest direction I think we have is to always remember what Jesus asked and expected us to do. Love God with all your heart mind and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself. This is accomplished, in part, when we show dignity and respect to whomever we meet in our daily walk through this life.  

It’s easy to look down on people who are different from us, especially if we feel like we are struggling financially. We may even find ourselves feeling superior to others because of our wealth. However, as we have seen, this is not the right way to think about things. Rich and poor alike need each other in order to create a strong society. If we all work together and treat each other with respect, we can build a better world for everyone. What do you think? How can you apply the idea that rich and poor are both necessary in your life? Let us know in the comments!