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Day 182 Proverbs 18:23 Proverbs 18:23 The poor uses entreaties; but the rich answers roughly. Have you ever been in a position where you needed to ask a favor of someone, but you didn’t know how it would be received, and then found the person laughed in your face at your predicament? As king, Solomon was in the position to see how other people in his position, kings, and queens of other lands, treated those less fortunate than themselves. Often their positions went to their head and they treated those less fortunate as someone not worth their while. When the Queen of Sheba arrived in Jerusalem and saw all Solomon did for his people and his servants, she was awed. 1 Kings 10:1 And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions. 2 And she came to Jerusalem with a very great train, with camels that bare spices, and very much gold, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart. 3 And Solomon told her all her questions: there was not anything hid from the king, which he told her not. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all Solomon’s wisdom, and the house that he had built, 5 And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel, and his cupbearers, and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her. 6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom. 7 Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceeds the fame which I heard. 8 Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom. She noted the servants’ happiness, something for which she was unfamiliar. Everything she saw and heard surprised her, making it highly doubtful she treated her own servants in like manner. As Christians, you are to treat everyone with the same kindness, not treating one person better than the other. As children, you learned the Golden Rule. Jesus gave us that golden rule. Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. (KJV) James also had something to say about how we are to treat all people the same. James 2:1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. Everyone deserves your respect. Everyone deserves to be heard. As Christians, you are to be givers and doers. You are not to sit on your hands, or watch when someone has a need you can help with. The next time someone comes to you for help, and you have the means to help them, do it. Let’s pray: Father, help me to listen and hear when people come to me for help and not turn them away. Help me be a doer of the Word, and not just a hearer. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 9 March 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay