When taken into context as to why so many shy away from the poor, it's usually because in the vast parts of the world a man is poor because he is lazy and never bothered to work hard enough to better his lot in life. Those closest to him understand why he is poor and they shy away from him, because a man's life is only as good as is his desire to succeed.
Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger. (Proverb 19:15)
A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. (Proverb 19:24)
Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend. (Proverb 19:4)
All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.(Proverb 19:17)
