BEFORE THE LORD

Proverbs 22:2. The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all. What is the idea of “meet together”? The rich are those so judged by people of the community, same as those who are poor. Thus, the terms are relative to that community. In either case, both are part of that community; how then should they live? With the grounded knowledge they are of the same community and they should live with respect one toward the other. In fact, both should live by the golden rule (cf. Matt. 7:12). Why? He who is Lord over all will call both to judgment one day and the status of both is equal in the eyes of the Lord. The rich are no longer rich, and the poor are no longer poor.