What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.
Loyalty is another translation of steadfast love. To remain loyal to a friend in trouble is risky; choosing to retain that relationship can be costly but shows great integrity. The contrasting reputation to loyalty or steadfast love would be the person who uses deceit for their own gain, otherwise known as a liar. To deceive to get ahead demonstrates the opposite of personal integrity, which holds to truth even when it’s inconvenient. Scripture rarely presents legitimate love in purely emotional terms: real love always inspires action. A loving man is kind to others. There is more honor in being a poor man who shows kindness and help for others than to be rich and pretend to be unable to help others. Love is the greatest characteristic defining a life influenced by Christ. Without love, everything else, including rhetoric, the ability to understand divination, great faith, charity, and even persecution amount to nothing. Love is patient, kind, humble, enduring, and lasting. Pretending to be loving is hypocritical. According to the book of Proverbs, a lying tongue and a false witness who breathes out lies are things God explicitly hates. Love and honesty receive the Lord’s favor, but unkindness and deceit receive His judgment.
Spiritual Steve 