what makes people poor?

What makes people poor?

A  clear - eyed view of wealth and poverty

Pro10:15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.

"Poor people are lazy", says one person.

Some else claims the opposite: "They are poor because the rich control the system".

People tend to over simply when they discuss wealth and poverty.

Curiously, both sides may quote proverbs to prove their point.

You have to read all of proverbs to get its subtle view.

It says people are poor for various reasons:  because of laziness and drunkenness, but also the rich oppress them.

People get various reasons too: because of hard work, because of the Lord's blessing, because they cheated.

Proverbs given an evenhanded view of what money does for people.

Wealth brings benefits, including eager friends, 

proverbs says: but it also  brings worries and troubles.

Proverbs strongly urges the rich and the powerful to be generous and fair to poor people.

It remains remarkably clear - eyed about tangled causes of poverty and about the dagers and benefits of wealth.

Proverbs on money: 10:4 15, 22 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Pro 11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

Pro 13:8,18 22, 23The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

Pro 14: 20,23,31 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

(Proverbs 15:16; 18:23; 19:1,4,17; 20:13; 21:5,17; 22:1,2,4,7,9,22,23; 23:5; 28:3,6,8,11; 29:7,14; 30:7-9)

Lifequestions: Think of the richest and the poorest people you know. What is your attitude toward them