(Proverbs 23:1-35)
1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you,
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a person of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth;
Stop dwelling on it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish person;
Or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
But his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten
And waste your compliments.
9 Do not speak to be heard by a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not move the ancient boundary
Or go into the fields of the fatherless,
11 For their Redeemer is strong;
He will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to discipline,
And your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
Though you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall strike him with the rod
And rescue his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
My own heart also will be glad,
16 And my innermost being will rejoice
When your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in the fear of the Lord always.
18 Certainly there is a future,
And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way.
20 Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.
22 Listen to your father, who fathered you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.
26 Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit,
And a strange woman is a narrow well.
28 Certainly she lurks as a robber,
And increases the treacherous among mankind.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has red eyes?
30 Those who linger long over wine,
Those who go to taste mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it goes down smoothly;
32 In the end it bites like a snake
And stings like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things
And your mind will say perverse things.
34 And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.
35 “They struck me, but I did not become ill;
They beat me, but I did not know it.
When will I awake?
I will seek another drink.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Consider carefully what is before you,
2 And put a knife to your throat
If you are a person of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth;
Stop dwelling on it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish person;
Or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
He says to you, “Eat and drink!”
But his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten
And waste your compliments.
9 Do not speak to be heard by a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Do not move the ancient boundary
Or go into the fields of the fatherless,
11 For their Redeemer is strong;
He will plead their case against you.
12 Apply your heart to discipline,
And your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
Though you strike him with the rod, he will not die.
14 You shall strike him with the rod
And rescue his soul from Sheol.
15 My son, if your heart is wise,
My own heart also will be glad,
16 And my innermost being will rejoice
When your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in the fear of the Lord always.
18 Certainly there is a future,
And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way.
20 Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;
21 For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.
22 Listen to your father, who fathered you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.
26 Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit,
And a strange woman is a narrow well.
28 Certainly she lurks as a robber,
And increases the treacherous among mankind.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has contentions? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has red eyes?
30 Those who linger long over wine,
Those who go to taste mixed wine.
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it goes down smoothly;
32 In the end it bites like a snake
And stings like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things
And your mind will say perverse things.
34 And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.
35 “They struck me, but I did not become ill;
They beat me, but I did not know it.
When will I awake?
I will seek another drink.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
We should be careful with whom we closely associate. The Bible study that I attend right now is discussing how the world is a "kingdom of entertainment", while for God's family it is a "kingdom of celebration". Coming to a table somehow disarms people and brings people closer together... when our directions and purposes are aligned. Therefore, when we come together in a celebration that is focused on the Lord, everyone participates in fellowship and unity. It is a time of nourishment, encouragement, love and joy.
When people only come together to be entertained, understand that this is passive and self-centered, because everyone will have different purposes, expectations and reactions. If we are invited to someone's feast, beware that we might be the entertainment, because often, people will invite us to a party with ulterior motives. Even if they let you speak, and they seem so interested, they might be gaining intel in order to somehow use your words against you later. This has happened to me a few times. The journey may seem enjoyable, but in the end, it is not!
Also understand that people who desire to be entertained will tend to require more and more, otherwise they will start saying, "I've seen this before, and it's not enough! Now, give me a different experience, or give me something 'better'!" Like, with pornography, people will require things to become more and more perverted. Or like, with violent movies, people will crave more and more graphic scenes... because people can become desensitized.
Therefore, being content in the Lord will keep us away from trouble. Being content will prevent us from wanting what others have, whether it is power, wealth, luxury, leisure, popularity... And being content will prevent us from wanting more! Because even if something is good, it can become bad for us. Being content will also protect us from wanting things to go further than... which leads us into very dangerous and unhealthy behaviors and environments.
Being content will help keep us from worrying, being anxious and afraid that we're going to miss out on something. It will help us be happier and more focused at school or at work. It will help us in being happier in our marriage, and in staying faithful to our spouse. And it will even keep us faithful in our personal relationship with the Lord! Think about it, if we are not focused on being entertained, but being part of the celebration, we will look forward to going to church and getting involved! We will be less likely to complain, and more likely to serve and encourage!
Being content involves realizing and being thankful for the Lord's goodness, truth and wisdom, because these benefit and enrich our lives. If we are not thankful, and if we are not practicing thankfulness, we will not be content. The word "practicing" implies discipline, in order to be equipped and prepared. Along with praying, studying God's words, and putting His commandments into practice everyday, we can prepare our hearts, minds and bodies for each day, as well as for the times we will face temptations, tests and trials. Then, for example, when we come across an opportunity to overindulge, the temptation will not be there or be as strong - if - we have been practicing the attitude of being content.
This is not an impossible thing - when we ask the God of the impossible to help us! We can be content in the Lord, because He is the one who fulfills and satisfies us. And it is the Lord who gives us purpose and direction in life, which leads to peace, contentment and joy.
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