Proverbs 19:6-10

Proverbs 19:6-10
English Standard Version
​6 Many seek the favor of a generous man,
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
7 All a poor man's brothers hate him;
    how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.
8 Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
    he who keeps understanding will discover good.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who breathes out lies will perish.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for a slave to rule over princes.

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While Solomon is not telling us to try to buy friendship, he is saying that we can use the abundance that God has entrusted to us to bless our friends and family too, and that will help them see how much we really love them--when we give out of the goodness and kindness of our hearts expecting nothing in return.  There are plenty of people that want to be "friends" with the rich just because they want their "friend" to spend money on them, but they poor can't have this relationship with their friends.  The person who is poor because he is selfish and uses money and people for his own pleasure, not caring about the consequences doesn't even have family to rely on.  They are sick of how they are always expected to pay his debts and get him out of trouble.  He also has no money to use to buy gifts for his friends, yet he somehow expects everyone to take care of him.  He tells everyone his problems hoping that someone will feel pity for him, but they all keep their distance as much as they can so that they don't get caught up in the destruction and drama from his life choices.

Any rational man has a love for himself that should help him know how to treat others, "You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself."  This command assumes one correctly loves themselves.  Solomon points out that to not have that self-love is a sign of not having sense (being mentally ill).  The one who is wise will discover what good really is and will pursue it (they will not just love self but will love God and then love others too).

​Once again, Solomon comes back to how the false witness will not go unpunished, and the liar will perish (if not now, he will have his part in the Lake of Fire prepared for the devil and his angels).  No one can say they identify with the light and walk in darkness.  No one can identify with the Truth and naturally speak lies and bear false witness.  There are only two kingdoms, and you must be a citizen of one of the other--you cannot have dual-citizenship.

It does not make sense for a foolish person who lacks self-control to have much wealth.  He will simply waste it and not appreciate it.  It also doesn't make sense for the person who so poorly managed himself and his resources to end up in slavery (usually because of being in great debt to someone) to rule over others and manage their resources and affairs.  No, it makes sense that God would take the one who has been faithful with little and entrust him with even more.  How much do we consider this when we think about choosing our leaders though?  Shouldn't they be able to manage themselves their finances, and their households well before being entrusted with leadership in the Church or the State? Solomon seems to think so.