Be Careful About Getting Involved

Proverbs 23:1-16

“When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.  Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.” Proverbs 23:1-3)

When accepting government benefits, be aware what you are doing.  Don’t try to get all you can.  Government does not produce anything, so it doesn’t have anything of its own to give.  It only gets what it has by taking it from somebody.  When you accept their largesse, you place yourself in their debt.  Sooner or later you will have to pay for it, and they will decide what you pay.  It often costs a lot more than you expect, but it is never free.

“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.  Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.” (Proverbs 23:4-5)

Being rich sounds like a great idea, but Solomon advises not to focus on doing so.   Earthly wealth is very fleeting.  It can be destroyed by poor investments or an economic collapse, or careless spending.  In addition, inflation, taxes, and criminal activity can take it from the most cautious owner.  Why waste time on something that can be taken away so easily?

“Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.  The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.” (Proverbs 23:6-8)

Don’t get involved with hypocrites and those who have divided loyalties because you don’t know where the real loyalty lies.  Just when you trust them, you may find they are working against you and taking advantage of your trust to hurt you.  They cannot be trusted.

“Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.” (Proverbs 23:9)

Don’t waste your time trying to teach a fool because he thinks he is smarter than you and will treat your advice as a joke. 

“Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.” (Proverbs 23:10-11)

Don’t deliberately cheat or take advantage of those who seem unable to protect themselves, because God will take their side. 

“Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 23:12)

Make a deliberate effort to get an education and learn as much as possible about as many things as possible.

“Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.  Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” (Proverbs 23:13-14)

If done properly, physical punishment will not do any permanent to a child, and by doing so you may well save his soul from hell.  It is far better to spank him for running into the street than to have to bury him because you didn’t. 

“My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.  Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.” (Proverbs 23:15-16)

Children need to understand that good decisions and attitude make their parents proud.   They don’t have to hide and pretend it is somebody else’s child making all the ruckus.  If the child doesn’t know that he has no reason to behave.