Ruler gifter friend

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

RULER GIFTER FRIEND

Prov 19:6-7

6 Many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts.

7 A poor man is shunned by all his relatives — how much more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.  

NIV

Once again we are faced with a comparison of the wealthy and the poor in their relationships with others. Although we have two different types of rich here we may not have seen before. We have the ruler and the one who gives gifts. These may be one in the same person, but it also may be two different types of people who live in abundance.

Luke 22:24-26

 25 Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.

NIV

The ruler, the person who sits in the seat of government usually has many who pursue his favor. They desire to serve him, to proclaim his greatness in hopes of being a recipient of his generosity, he thinks of himself as their benefactor. He lords his position, his authority over them, but they do not care, they do not mind in hopes of getting something for themselves. This does remind us of the whole of Washington D.C. and its system of patronage. Yet should we not be seeking the favor of God? He is our ruler. All men should seek his favor for with it comes eternal life. Should we not being proclaiming his greatness and authority over our lives? How can we do or live without seeking his approval because he is our Lord. The second rich man is the one who is defined as the giver of gifts. It seems our whole society is geared to receiving gifts. As children Christmas is a much awaited day as it is when all we have every wanted is wrapped up under the tree. But this rich man is the one who shares his wealth and everyone wants to be friends with him. This is the one who might have great parties, inviting all the friends who are the hangers on, in hopes of getting something for themselves. Many are the people who want to stand around the most important person at a party, a wedding, or other social gathering. Should we not gather around Jesus? Should we not want to be near him, at all times? Is he not the most important person in our lives? Has he not told us if we need anything, anything at all we need but ask him?

John 14:13-14

13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

NIV

He is our ruler and the one who gives gifts and calls us friend. But the poor in contrast seem to have people running from them, not wanting anything to do with them. In fact when their needs are really pressing and he looks for one to help, they avoid him, so he cannot find any of who were supposed to be friends. How true that is in many cases with mankind. How often do we roll up the window as we approach that person with a sign seeking a hand out for food? Is that not avoidance? We even judge them. What about the widows and orphans who we as believers are admonished to look after. Do we even know who they are? How would we look after them? If we think they have been left with a surplus of money by their deceased husband, why would we need to look after them? What needs would they have? What about the orphans? Could we have adopted them? Perhaps the younger families are able, but we in our older years, should we not look after them too? This is difficult, not to avoid those in need, the poor. Again we can see that God has indeed looked after us, being truly the poor. We have nothing compared to the glory of God, and yet he seeks after us. He does not avoid us. He has told us if we seek we will find, if we knock, the door will be opened. He is always there for us. He has told us he will never forsake us, he will never leave us. Even when we are poor of faith, that is our faith is weak and we lose sight of his plan for us and we get distracted by the world, he is there, he is still with us, he has not left. Even when we fail him miserably and we yield to a temptation and sin, he is there, he has not turned his back on us, and he will never avoids us. It would be a horrible way to live as a believer always in fear of God leaving us every time we commit a sin. That would be a life of fear, not of one being at peace with God. Now, sure we should not go about sinning, but the fact remains we will not be perfect until we reach heaven. So then in our weakness he is made strong. He is our refuge our strong tower and we will run into it. He is our ruler, our gift giver and our friend.