Proverbs 22:2

2 The rich and the poor have this in common,
The Lord is the maker of them all.

“Brother, can you spare a dime?” If so, take it out of your pocket and look on the reverse side of the coin. What do you see?

No, not Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Remember, the side with “heads” in a coin toss is the “obverse” side. The “reverse” side is oppos- Great, you got it. 

You will see symbols of a torch, an olive branch and an oak branch. According to the U.S. Mint, “the torch signifies liberty, the olive branch peace, and the oak branch represents strength and independence.” 

On the dime’s reverse you will also see the words, E pluribus unum. This latin phrase means “out of many…one,” and it has appeared on U.S. Coins since 1786 and officially adopted by the U.S. Mint in 1795. The phrase is of murky origins hearkening back to ancient plays and orations, and even St. Augustine, and mostly concerned friendship. However, the implication on your dime is that out of many people––or states––comes one nation. 

By and large, the west, and in particularly the United States, has been successful in living out the motto of E pluribus unum. Yes, there have been serious problems but there have also been wonderful successes. Historian and commentator Victor Davis Hanson, notes however:

America's melting pot is history's sole exception of E pluribus unum inclusivity: a successful multiracial society bound by a common culture, language and values. But this is a historic aberration with a future that is now in doubt.–Victor Davis Hanson  

E pluribus unum is a phrase that most people in the west seem barely aware of as the pace of life and the self-focused nature of modern culture drives people ever inward. The more materialistic society gets, and the more our tailor-made personal worlds of social media becomes, the less aware we seem to be of the needs of those around us. 

Not that there are not reminders. Our social betters such as Hollywood, the Ivy League elite, and professional politicians seem to constantly promote the “holy trinity” of the “woke” era: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Celebrities and politicians (but I repeat myself) are continuously making movies, giving highly-paid speeches, and appropriating more public funds to pour liquid cash on the perennial problem of poverty and other social ills.

Knowing that you cannot simply “throw money at a problem,” the growing strategy of implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion also includes an attempt to engineer social change. These seek to enable the downtrodden (or oppressed) of society to advance, while those who hold wealth and power (or oppressors) are hindered or harmed in their efforts to maintain position. 

But is this the best way to help the needy? By simply giving them money, and penalizing others? The results of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion may be to provide opportunities for some to get ahead, but the negative influence of “leveling the playing field” by punishing hard workers and savers and doing away with merit-based education and employment will have lasting effects for generations to come. 

Plus, this new zeitgeist creating an atmosphere of menace in employing the language of Marx in pitting “oppressors” and “oppressed” against each other. E pluribus unum is giving away to Balkanization. Where once assimilation into a single “western culture” allowed a people to grow in strength and goodness, it now seems that every man is doing right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6).

In his wisdom, Solomon knows and understands these things as he teaches the young people of Israel, her future leaders and his own son who will one day be king. In Proverbs chapter 22, the wise king makes a point about the rich and poor–and the One who is over them both: 

2 The rich and the poor have this in common,
The Lord is the maker of them all.–Proverbs 22:2

This proverb is a reminder that there is always a biblical solution to society’s problems, and it is the righteous person who understands this. 

While Solomon is not stooping to use Marxist rhetoric in describing rich and poor, he nevertheless does not pull any punches. As a student of God’s wisdom in Proverbs, you now understand the importance of the words that the wise king chooses.

The rich in Proverbs are seen as selfish and cruel, rather than the benevolent and blessed wealthy. The poor, on the other hand, are impoverished through no fault of their own––unlike the lazy man, or the fool. When properly and specifically employed, and not used as a blanket term, “oppressor” shows its biblical meaning in other proverbs: 

31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.–Proverbs 14:31

And again in chapter 29:

13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives light to the eyes of both..–Proverbs 29:13

Solomon is saying that rich or poor, all men are under the one great equalizer: the great I AM. As the well-intentioned or the manipulative of a society seek to achieve a “level playing field” through social change, there is already One who has them all under His watchful eye, and moves men about by His divine Providence. 

The Lord is the maker of them all reminds you that no matter your station in life, whether you have a house in the Hamptons or are homeless and walking the highways, you are handmade by the same sovereign and powerful God. 

The poor in scripture are nearly always closely tied to God. Poverty in and of itself is not righteousness, nor is it required to follow Christ, but the poor are never out of His sight. The Father even cares for them (Matthew 6:25-27). Thus, as commentator Bruce Waltke reveals: 

The rich should remember that their treatment of the poor is equated with the treatment of their Maker…–Bruce Waltke 

Do you have a heart of compassion? It is one thing to resist helping a lazy person, but this proverb is reminding you that the downtrodden and suffering poor are all around you, and laziness is not always a factor. As a hard-working person, you are aware of how often the razor-thin margins of success and failure come together in life. How many times has the wolf been at your own door over the years, only to hear him shuffle away when the stock market improved, or that business venture began to pay off? 

To work hard and achieve prosperity in life is a blessing from God, and if you truly understand that He is the source of every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), you will want to share His love–and your wealth–with those in need.

Solomon is talking to the poor as well. In reminding them that I AM has made them, he is lifting them up in dignity and station as part of creation. But he is also warning that…

…the poor should remember not to despise, envy, or revolt against the rich nor to sycophantically ingratiate themselves to them nor compromise their conscience to win their favor.–Bruce Waltke

In the modern “woke” language of “oppressed and oppressor” there is little room for actual charity, and no room for grace between people. R.C. Sproul captures this in a call for you to always consider your Maker and His plans for you in poverty and in wealth:

Because God is the Maker of both the rich and the poor, let each be content within his own divinely appointed sphere and bring glory to God by remaining faithful in his calling.-R. C. Sproul

As the modern west struggles to maintain itself as an E pluribus unum culture of peace, strength, and independence, it would do well to remember its Maker, who has created us all, and by His grace allowed the light of freedom to shine. 

The solution for poverty and the suffering poor is not to flood them with government money, or to tear down moral and family structures in an effort to make misery universal. Nor is it the sole charge of the church to take care of those in need, for this is only part of the mission of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

In some ways, it can be easy for the church to seek to take on the burden of charity to the poor. It is noble and rewarding to establish a soup kitchen, or take part in a clothing drive. There are many wonderful and giving believers who do this on a grand scale, and many millions benefit. Churches can become so focused on service, that they can become too focused on sharing Christ by “actions” rather than by His Word.

In its quest to “do something” too help the needy, the church can also neglect its own. This was a problem in Acts 6 when Hebraic converts overlooked the needy widows and orphans among the Hellenistic converts. If your church actively runs mercy ministries and focuses on outreach, you must be sure to take care of those members within who are suffering too.

Unlike short-sighted or punitive government programs or social movements, the church is a source of refuge in that it is the keeper of the good news for all mankind.  The gospel is for all people, not just the wealthy, or those in power, as the Apostle Paul teaches:

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.–Galatians 3:28

As the people of Galatia encountered Jesus through His Gospel, they suddenly experienced liberation. The cross-cultural, cross-economic, cross-social nature of the message of Jesus applied in their lives in a very real and practical way.

The gospel is not oppressive, nor is it only for the oppressed. It is a grace-filled gift. When the people of Corinth experienced this gift it freed them from the bondage of earthly lusts and institutional oppressions. The church was a true cross-section of a “modern” culture, from wealthy elite figures such as the city treasurer down to those used and abused in temple prostitution. 

These social and financial differences caused its share of friction, but Paul showed them peace and equality in Christ: 

24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.–1 Corinthians 7:24

For Jesus, who served others with humility, grace, and forgiveness, is the perfect model of faith. If Christ is the object of your faith, if you are truly in Him, your heart will be filled with compassion for the suffering around you. Even if your church is small and there are not many able hands, you can still partner with local ministries or missions that do have the resources or know how to apply your gifts. 

As  E pluribus unum embodies one from many, the Gospel is meant to bring all believers into the Body of Christ. This is the mission of the church, and the goal of you as a believer as you minister to others in this life. Time is a luxury that you do not have, when it comes to thinking about eternity. As James wonderfully puts it:

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.–James 1:9-10

God never meant the world to be fair. It is by His will and providence that the rich grow fat and the poor suffer. But you are here to be Christ to those who are oppressed by this sinful world and to help light their way home. Even at great personal cost, as Paul encourages you: 

19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; –I Corinthians 9:19 

The Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay and this Saturday Deep is written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.