Proverbs 19:4
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Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
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Money creates friends! It sure does! The rich always have an entourage of happy and serving friends. But the friendships are false, and the happy and helpful entourage is only looking out for themselves. Once the money runs out, the fair weather friends fly away, the entourage disappears. Even once-helpful neighbors avoid and reject a poor man.
Some proverbs teach an obvious lesson. "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it," is not difficult to grasp. The proverb's value is obtained by exploring the full sense of proper training, the nature of a child, the way he should go, and what is an old child. The rule is clear: we simply dig for the rule's details.
Other proverbs declare an observation from life. The lesson is only implied, and it is the reader's duty to find it. There are many such proverbs in Proverbs, and this is one of them. Solomon stated his observation about the effects of money on relationships, and it is our privilege to identify the lesson, which is the condemnation of such false priorities.
His observation is true. Men gravitate to those with money, for they hope to get some for themselves. Solomon's experience teaches wisdom. We see through the false words and actions of flattering sycophants, who ingratiate themselves to the rich. Numbers do not impress us, knowing the crowd is only temporary - while the money lasts. We recognize the power of bribes, and we have a jaundiced view of fads and financial popularity.
The love of money is the root of all evil. It causes men to make friendships based on financial gain rather than character. These are not real friendships, but relationships of greed and covetousness. When the money runs out, the friendship ends. Even neighbors, who should have a sense of duty to one another, will avoid and reject those who are poor.
Solomon made this observation for his son several times (14:20; 18:16; 19:6-7). Being the son of a rich king, fawning leeches would be following him. He had to be wise and see through their facade of friendship and measure their character. Men of principle do not care about money or other advantage; they are there for the long haul (17:17). Kings, and successful men, must demand character to survive (25:4-5; Ps 101:1-8; 144:11-15).
Financial success, by itself, is not an accurate measure of a man. There are too many factors contributing to riches other than character and ability. There are rich fools, and there are poor wise men. Time and chance happens to them all (Eccl 9:11). Be instructed: a poor wise man is far superior to a rich fool (19:1; 28:6; Eccl 4:13; 9:13-16).
Consider two Bible examples of how wealth affects friendships. Job, once very rich, complained how his most intimate friends and family members had forsaken him in his horrible poverty and trouble (Job 19:8-19). But Jonathan, the Prince of Israel, the greatest example of a friend, gave up his lofty position and great riches to befriend the poor shepherd David (I Sam 18:1-4; 20:30). True friends are not influenced by wealth at all.
Do not love others for what they can do for you. Jesus said, "When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:12-14). Merely loving those who love you is sinful love (Luke 6:32).
The Lord Jesus, Who was very rich, became poor to befriend and save poverty-stricken wretches, that they might become rich by His poverty (II Cor 8:9)! Here is friendship unknown to natural men! Here is the unspeakable gift of the gospel! Those who know Jesus Christ will easily burn themselves out serving those who cannot pay (II Cor 12:15).
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