As I sat in a funeral service of one that was to be laid to rest, I noticed something. Actually I have always noticed. …. and pondered it in my heart for the rest of the day.

As a man was being eulogized by two preachers, there was a distinct difference in the eulogies from this man that was poor, than from those that are rich in this world’s wealth. This man was a common man. Hemmed in by pine trees and run down houses, a place where most turn their heads and pretend not to notice, for the poor are not noticed much.

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:25

“And he was sad at that saying, and he went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” Mark 10:22

“And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:23

“And the disciples were astonished at His words, But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” Mark 10:24

I have been to funerals of those that are wealthy, and there is no denying the differences. The eulogies given yesterday were more of a “good ole boy” eulogy. Stereotyped with the drinking of beer, wild life, risk taking etc. Whether the preachers knew it or not, it sounded as if they were playing to the crowd. Laughter at the antics this man displayed in life. It was noticeable, and though that was the man’s choices in life, I couldn’t deny what I was hearing, and perhaps this eulogy was at his request when he was among the living.

…and as I sat there, pondering this in my heart, I thought about our Lord, and His life and death while here among us, and if we had been in the presence of this Child, born of a virgin, wrapped in swaddling, laid in a manger, for there was no room for Him in the inn, would we have treated Him any differently. It’s a sobering thought.

“And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7

“And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head.” Matthew 8:20

“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: He hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.” Isaiah 53:2-3

“He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

“And He made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death; because He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in His mouth.” Isaiah 53:9

…and as I continued to think on the differences in station in life, I also thought of “pride.”
There is nothing shameful in being poor, and there is nothing wrong with being wealthy. It is all a matter of attitude. We can be just as prideful being poor as we can being rich, and our Lord warns us in Scripture about “pride.”

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Proverbs 16:18-19

“And man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.” Proverbs 29:23

Let us be of the same mind regarding both the rich and the poor, not being prideful in either, but in keeping with a humble spirit whatever our lot in life is.

“Pride is concerned with who is right.
Humility is concerned with what is right.”

Eileen Light