Proverbs 22:2 “The rich and the poor have a common bond, the Lord is the maker of them all.”
Observation: This verse is the great leveler of Scripture. The Lord is indeed the maker of all, and because of that we do indeed have a common bond. Between rich and poor He has no preference; He has made and loves us all.
Application: Elsewhere, Paul said that regardless of his station in life, he had learned to be contented. Romans 14 makes a similar point, not referring to our allotment of the world’s goods, but based instead upon our belief in Christ. Paul said in verses 17 and 18 that the kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit and all who serve Christ in this way are acceptable to God. Even though our convictions about certain matters of opinion may differ, the Lord loves each one who has come to Him in faith; we are accountable to live what we have conviction to live (verse 22). We are not to judge another, and we ought to celebrate the fact that the Lord loves us all.
As an example, look at Romans 14:8, “If we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” Or Romans 14:13, “Let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.” Or verse 14: “I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.”
Whether we eat and give thanks to the Lord for our food or whether we fast in honor of the Lord, each of us is accountable and can be pleasing to Him. So we must not exalt or value one system above another, but rather exalt God and live faithfully what He has called us to live.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for this reminder that love covers all things, and that Your love is above everything else. You care that I live my life in You, and You extend a wonderful measure of freedom in how that might look for me. Cause me to love whom You love and to embrace what You embrace.