Topical Bible: Prosperity: The Prosperous People Despise the Unfortunate People

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In the biblical narrative, prosperity is often depicted as a blessing from God, a sign of His favor and provision. However, the Scriptures also provide cautionary tales and teachings about the attitudes and responsibilities that accompany wealth. One recurring theme is the tendency of prosperous individuals to despise or neglect those who are less fortunate, a behavior that is consistently condemned in the Bible.

Biblical Warnings Against Despising the Unfortunate

The Bible contains numerous admonitions against the mistreatment or neglect of the poor and unfortunate. In the book of Proverbs, a collection of wisdom sayings, the attitude of the prosperous towards the poor is addressed directly. Proverbs 14:21 states, "He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor." This verse highlights the moral failing of looking down upon those in need and contrasts it with the virtue of kindness and generosity.

Similarly, Proverbs 17:5 warns, "He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished." This passage underscores the theological perspective that all people are created by God, and to despise the poor is to insult their Creator. The prosperous are reminded that their wealth does not elevate them above others in the eyes of God.

The Example of Job

The account of Job provides a profound example of a prosperous man who maintained his integrity and compassion for the unfortunate. Despite his immense wealth, Job was known for his righteousness and care for the needy. In Job 29:12-16, he recounts his actions: "Because I rescued the poor who cried out and the fatherless who had no helper, the dying man blessed me, and I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I took up the case of the stranger."

Job's example serves as a model for the prosperous, demonstrating that true righteousness involves using one's resources to uplift and support those in need, rather than despising or ignoring them.

The Rich Man and Lazarus

In the New Testament, Jesus provides a parable that starkly illustrates the consequences of neglecting the poor. In Luke 16:19-31, the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus tells of a wealthy man who lived in luxury while a poor man named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered in sores and longing for scraps from the rich man's table. After their deaths, Lazarus is comforted in Abraham's bosom, while the rich man suffers in Hades. This parable serves as a powerful warning that earthly prosperity is fleeting and that neglecting the needs of the poor can have eternal consequences.

The Call to Generosity and Justice

Throughout Scripture, the call to generosity and justice is clear. The prosperous are encouraged to use their resources to care for the less fortunate, reflecting God's love and justice. In 1 John 3:17, believers are challenged: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" This rhetorical question emphasizes that true faith is demonstrated through acts of compassion and generosity.

The Bible consistently teaches that prosperity should not lead to pride or disdain for the less fortunate. Instead, it is an opportunity to reflect God's character through acts of kindness, justice, and mercy.

Nave's Topical Index

Job 12:5
He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Rise of the Assyrian Empire
... The natives began, at length, under their influence, to despise the customs and ... the
Umbrians, where they built cities, and became a prosperous people under the ...
/.../chapter iithe rise of the.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... themselves still as his children.* The prosperity of Ephraim and ... whether their journey
would be prosperous, he told ... the town of Laish, whose people, like the ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

the Legendary History of Egypt
... stood in the midst of delightful gardens; and there, among his own people, Osiris
led ... The god does not confine his favour to the prosperous and the powerful of ...
/.../chapter iii -the legendary history of.htm

The Reaction against Egypt
... The name of this people was read ... triumph, and they no doubt believed that the prosperous
era of ... which provokes a smile; we should, however, not despise it, for ...
/.../chapter iithe reaction against egypt.htm

part i
... or no"what I would rather say, is, despise it, do ... is pleasing to God and agreeable
to other people. ... each other, and yet meanwhile more prosperous than needy ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm