Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Saying 7
When you sit to dine with a ruler,
    note well what is before you,
and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to gluttony.
Do not crave his delicacies,
    for that food is deceptive.
Saying 8
Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
    do not trust your own cleverness.
Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
    for they will surely sprout wings
    and fly off to the sky like an eagle.
Saying 9
Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
    do not crave his delicacies;
for he is the kind of person
    who is always thinking about the cost.
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.
You will vomit up the little you have eaten
    and will have wasted your compliments.
Saying 10
Do not speak to fools,
    for they will scorn your prudent words.

• Proverbs 23:1-9

Proverbs 23:4-5: ” Jesus had a definition for greed. He called it the practice of measuring life by possessions.
“Greed equates a person’s worth with a person’s purse.
“1. You got a lot = you are a lot.
“2. You got a little = you are little.
“The consequence of such a philosophy is predictable. If you are the sum of what you own then by all means own it all. No price is too high. No payment is too much …
“Greed is not defined by what something costs; it is measured by what it costs you. If anything costs you your faith or your family, the price is too high.”

• Max Lucado, When God Whispers Your Name

The Message

Proverbs 22 covered six sayings, Proverbs 23 covers 13 more sayings.  This lesson covers sayings 7-10.

Saying 7 reminds me of Daniel 1.  The elite of the exiles were set apart to become leaders, but they had to go through a training program.  They first received food that did not meet the Hebrew dietary restrictions.  They refused to eat it.  They were ordered to do so, but four of them: Daniel, and those better known by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, offered a trial.  After a set time, if they were healthier, eating only vegetables, then they would not be required to eat the other food.  They not only became healthier than the others, they outperformed them in wisdom and knowledge.  This is not a testament to vegetarianism.  They would eat only the things on the menu that met their dietary restrictions according to Levitical Law.  God honored their faith and obedience.

Saying 8 reminds me of the old saying: “Easy come, easy go.”  We should not seek riches.  If we have riches or we obtain riches, we should use it to God’s glory.  Having riches makes it difficult to rely upon God in everything, since it is easy to write out a check.  But then, there will be that test of faith that money cannot buy the way out.  Are you ready?

The begrudging host may not be that begrudging.  The host does not like you eating up his profits.  He would rather take advantage of you, taking your profits away.  It may not be a matter of feeling sick to your stomach, but you may find your wallet lighter in the process.

Paul tells Timothy to not enter into arguments with fools.  It gets you nowhere, and it can cause you pain in the process.  If armed with apologetics skills, you will know when they are truly interested in an intelligent conversation.  I have known people who state up from that as soon as you quit talking, they will attack with their counter arguments.  And of all the lies that they tell, they are truthful in that they will attack in one method or another.  Beware and be prepared and pray before the “discussion” that it remains a discussion instead of a battle.

And now let us sing.

The following song is How Rich a Treasure We Possess.  This is sung by Sovereign Grace Music.

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We need Your wisdom.  Help us to value wisdom.  Most of these sayings revolve around how opulence and riches can lead us to doing the wrong thing.  We should never sacrifice our values for something shiny that may not last.  We should stick to Your plan for our lives.  And we should spread Your Gospel.  Yet, if we are confronted with someone who would rather argue than to listen to what we have to say, saying anything falls on deaf ears and we could look to be someone who was not showing love.  Give us wisdom in this area and give us the tools.  You have promised that in tough situations like that, You will provide the words.  Thank You.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.