2 Nephi 9 (Part V)

Some references to being poor/rich:

2 Nephi 9:30 Wo unto the rich, who are rich as to things of the world. For because they are rich, they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure shall perish with them also.

Genesis 13:2 And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.

Exodus 23:3 Neither shalt thou favor a poor man in his cause.

Exodus 30:15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord.

1 Samuel 2:6 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

Psalms 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

Proverbs 13:7,11 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath n othing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches...Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Proverbs 13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall behonoured.

Proverbs 14:23-24 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of their lips tendeth only to penury. The crown of the wise is their riches: but eh foolishness of fools is folly.

Proverbs 28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent...He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.

Proverbs 30:8-9 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

There really are too many to list. I've blown through my time today reading references that all seem to imply that hard work is required by the Lord and results in prosperity, which is acceptable. Treating the poor badly is never acceptable. Being poor is only acceptable if you are not lazy, don't steal, and don't blame God for it. The rich often despise the poor, which is not ok. If the poor are wise, they are still treated badly, and we should all shut our mouths until we're sure it's the right time to talk. To summarize, I would say, God made us all, being rich caries its own special challenges, which it seems are more likely to prevent you from getting into heaven than the challenges associated with being poor, but there is clearly an obligation to work diligently to get yourself out of poverty if you are poor. When you do so, you can't treat the other poor (whether they are there because of laziness or not) badly, but must remember to treat them generously.