The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Proverbs 22:7 (ESV)
Let’s take this in and take it in slowly.
Two classes of people are mentioned here: rich and poor.
The rich are designated as rulers over the poor and also act as lenders to the poor. Part of the rich’s ability to rule over the poor stems from the rich’s ability to serve as the lender to the poor. The rich have control of the interest rates charged on what is lent to the poor. And, if the poor do not have a solid credit record or a certain credit rating, the rich determine that the risk is high enough to constitute higher rates on funds lent to the poor.
On the other hand, the poor are ruled over by the rich. The poor are most likely to borrow from the rich, making them ” the slave of the lender.” The poor are at the mercy of the rich when it comes to terms and conditions for money borrowed from the rich. In some cases, the money borrowed from the rich contributes to the ongoing cycle of poverty.
Warnings Against Exploiting the Poor
Don’t rob the poor just because you can, or exploit the needy in court
Proverbs 22:22 (NLT)
For the needy shall not always be forgotten;
The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.
Psalm 9:18 (NKJV)
One who oppresses the poor to make more for himself,
Or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.
Proverbs 22:16 (NASB)
Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor.
And do not scheme against each other.
Zechariah 7:10 (NLT)
God has His eyes on all of us. He’s keeping an eye on all of our actions. He’s keenly aware of all of our motives. After all, God sees all and knows all. God’s got the omniscience that many wonder about. Crosswalk does a pretty good job of answering that question here: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/is-it-true-that-god-sees-everything.html
Look at how you treat people. No matter where you might fall on the spectrum of socioeconomic status, treat people with dignity and love your neighbor as yourself.
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