Proverbs 19:4 Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies, but poor people are avoided like a plague. (The Message)
I remember a young friend of Laura's who struggled in keeping her friends and thought if she gave the kids little presents they would like her better. And for the most part they did, not because of who she was, but because of the presents she gave them. She didn't understand she was buying their friendship and it appeared to them she had money to burn, so why not be a friend.
My town has more than it's share of rich people who have the big houses, big SUV's, designer clothes and have pretty much anything they want when they want it. But we also have people on the welfare system. Ones who qualify for food stamps, free school lunches, Medicaid and who get the bags of groceries at Thanksgiving.
Growing up I heard hear things like: put in a pool, you will have more friends than you ever knew you had or how many relatives/friends (for those who travel to FL during the winter months) show up and want to spend a week or two with you. Are they the same friends you'd have if you didn't have the FL place or the pool?
Are there any differences in them as people? In some aspects there are. The outsides are different-period. We are all people, children of God and he loves us equally. Wealthy people aren't any better or worse than poor people to God and shouldn't be to us either.
Too bad we sometimes can't see others for who they are instead of what they have. The nicest people I meet are the normal, every day, down to earth, run of the mill Joes. They don't try to buy my friendship or impress me with their homes or their clothes. They like me for who I am and I like them for who they are. I used to tell my girls - it's not what's on the outside that counts, it's what's on the inside (meaning the heart).
Let's think of that the next time someone who hasn't or looks like they don't have much wants to spend time or talk with us. Don't ignore them and love them as a brother or sister.
Nancy
