"Rich Man Poor Man"

Title: “Rich Man Poor Man” (A Mother’s Day Message)

Which man was rich… a comparison.

Introduction:

David had failed. Chapter eleven is a sad chapter in the life of David. He had committed both adultery and murder. God sends his preacher to rebuke David with this parable. It very well illustrates how a man is to properly care for his wife.

Let me ask the ladies in our Church this one question: Would you rather be rich man’s trophy or a poor man’s treasure?

Note the following seven points on “How to treat a lady” as illustrated by the poor man in this text:

1. He bought her.

(2 Sam 12:3 KJV) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought…

The price of a woman’s virginity is a wedding ring. David had not paid that price!

2. He nourished her.

(2 Sam 12:3 KJV) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up:

It is the responsibility of the husband to provide life long care for his wife.

3. He got to know her.

(2 Sam 12:3 KJV) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him…

Did you marry your wife to get a second income? Or did you marry your wife to have a life’s partner at your side?

(Side note)

You don’t get to know someone at the end of a dark road in the backseat of a car!

4. He gave her dignity and respect.

(2 Sam 12:3 KJV) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children…

The number one rule of the house ought to be “Children, obey the law of thy mother!” A woman desires and deserves dignity and respect.

5. They had become inseparatable.

(2 Sam 12:3 KJV) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup…

Where ever you saw the lamb, you saw the poor man. They were side by side. A husband and a wife ought to be inseparatable.

David was ashamed of Bathsheba. He tried to cover his sin.

6. He cherished her.

(2 Sam 12:3 KJV) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom…

Contrast this verse with David’s lustful affair in Chapter eleven.

7. He protected her.

(2 Sam 12:3 KJV) But the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.

Every man seeks to protect his daughter. How do you think that Uriah would have reacted if he had known the truth about what David had done to his wife?

Let me ask you one question: How do you treat your wife?

There is both good news and bad news in the follow up message of this text:

The Bad news…

The wages of sin is death.

The baby born of Bathsheba would die and the sword would not pass from his house.

The Good news…

God can put away your sin.

Nathan said, “God hath put away thy sin. You shall not surely die.”

It is possible to learn from your mistakes. David repented of his sin. Note how David lovingly cared for Bathsheba after the death of the child.

(2 Sam 12:24 KJV) And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him.

Conclusion: The rich man was the poor man in this text. The poor man was the rich man in this text. You too, can be a rich man if you learn to cherish the wife of your youth!