Do Not Judge by the Outward Appearance - JUDGING BY RICHES OR POVERTY

Material wealth is another factor that can affect our view of others.  Leviticus 19:15 says:  "You must not show partiality to the poor or show preference to the rich.  With justice you should judge your fellow man."  But how could a person's wealth or his poverty affect the way we view him? 

Holy spirit moved Solomon to record a sad truth about imperfect humans.  At Proverbs 14:20, he states:  "the poor man is hated even by his neighbors, but many are his friends of the rich person."  What does this proverb teach us?  If we are not careful, we could desire the friendship of brothers who are wealthy while shunning brothers who are poor.  Why is it so dangerous to measure the value of others solely on the basis of their material wealth?

If we judge others on the basis of material wealthy, we could create class distinctions in the congregation.  The disciple James warned that this problem was dividing some congregations in the first century.  (Read James 2:1-4)  We must be on guard not to allow this thinking to affect our congregations today.  How can we fight against such judgments on the outward appearance? 

We need to see our brothers as Jehovah sees them.  A person is not precious to Jehovah because he is wealthy or because he is poor.   Our relationship  with Jehovah will never be determined  by how many material possessions we have or by what we lack.  While it is true that Jesus said that "It will be difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of the heavens,"  He did not say that it would be impossible.  (Matthew 19:23) On the other hand, Jesus also said:  "Happy are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God."  (Luke 6:20) Yet, this did not mean that all poor people were specially blessed and responded to the teaching of Jesus.  Many poor people did not respond. The point is, We simply cannot judge a person's relationship with Jehovah by his material possessions. 

We are blessed to have many brothers and sisters, rich or poor, who love and serve Jehovah with a complete heart.  The Scriptures instruct those who are rich "to place their home, not on uncertain riches, but on God." (Read 1 Timothy 6:17-19)  At the same time, God's Word admonishes all of God's people, rich and poor, to be careful not to love  money.  (1 Timothy 6:9, 10)  Indeed, when we open our eyes and see our brothers as Jehovah sees them, we will not be tempted to judge them solely on what they have or have not materially.  But what about a person's age?  Is that a sound basis for judging others?  Let us see.

Next time: Do Not Judge  by the Outward Appearance - JUDGING BY AGE

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