July 13th - Reflection

Proverbs 19:1-17 (NRSV)
Kindness to the poor

Better the poor walking in integrity
than one perverse of speech who is a fool.
Desire without knowledge is not good,
and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way.
One's own folly leads to ruin,
yet the heart rages against the Lord.
Wealth brings many friends,
but the poor are left friendless.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and a liar will not escape.
Many seek the favor of the generous,
and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.
If the poor are hated even by their kin,
how much more are they shunned by their friends!
When they call after them, they are not there.
To get wisdom is to love oneself;
to keep understanding is to prosper.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and the liar will perish.
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.
Those with good sense are slow to anger,
and it is their glory to overlook an offense.
A king's anger is like the growling of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
A stupid child is ruin to a father,
and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
House and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Laziness brings on deep sleep;
an idle person will suffer hunger.
Those who keep the commandment will live;
those who are heedless of their ways will die.
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
and will be repaid in full.

Reflection
This passage seems to me at first glance to be all over the place... so much advice. It seems to me to be advice to slow down and listen for the advice of the Lord. Live with integrity in all cases and care for each other in love. Care for the poor and for those of your family in love. And finally know that kindness to the poor is what God is looking for out of each of us.

Prayer
Lord, there are times when your words seem to go right by me. But as I pause and listen, fill me with your love and your direction in all things. --- Amen