Proverbs 6
1 My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, have given a pledge for a stranger,
2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, have been caught with the words of your mouth,
3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids;
5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
In our times, there are several television serials where renowned judges try out small claims court cases, with the contents captured on television for public consumption. My wife and I find these cases very interesting. One pattern we observe is where, time and again, one person gave, or agreed to give, someone else something, and hoped to have it returned, only to find that it never was returned.
What can we learn from this? Exactly, what the above passage in Proverbs says – don’t be surety for a neighbor or stranger.
Who is a stranger? Pretty much everyone. You may think you know someone well, but once you lend them money, or agree to be surety for them, they suddenly become a totally different person; they become a stranger!
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise,
7 Which, having no chief, officer or ruler,
8 Prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest.
You don’t know what will happen tomorrow. Therefore, you need to save money while you have it. You shouldn’t need anyone to remind you to do this. Nobody tells the ant to store food in the summer for the harvest, and yet she does it. If she is so sensible, why can’t you be the same?
9 How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
10 “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest” –
11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man.
Another great truth to internalize is that if you want money you have to earn it yourself. If you are expecting others to give you their hard-earned money, you are naïve. People would rather take money from others than give. Yes, there are exceptions, but they are few and far in between, and you cannot count on them because many other people will stand in line before you to get their money. So then, don’t be lazy; work hard, and earn your own money.
12 A worthless person, a wicked man, is the one who walks with a perverse mouth,
13 Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who points with his fingers;
14 Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, who spreads strife.
15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.
Some people are simply not straight-forward. They are underhanded in almost everything they do. Such people get destroyed suddenly and permanently. Don’t be like them, and don’t associate with them. It is better to be alone than to be with such people.
16 There are six things which the LORD hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil,
19 A false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.
Some people cannot handle it when others are more excellent than they, and receive greater praise than them, especially if the excellent ones are junior to them or came after them. As a result, they speak evil about those excellent ones, and try to do them in by whatever means possible.
God hates such people. Don’t be one of them. Learn to play second fiddle when there is someone better than you. Learning to not be #1 is a very, very valuable skill to have.
20 My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother;
21 Bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life
24 To keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, nor let her capture you with her eyelids.
26 For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, and an adulteress hunts for the precious life.
An important aspect of wisdom is not listening to what your mind tells you. This is especially true when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex. What you see may look good and feel good and taste good. However, it is one big trap. If it doesn’t belong to you, don’t try to enjoy it. It is like a powerful drug. Once you taste it, you will want more, and it will be difficult to stop. So then, don’t even do it once.
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is the one who goes in to his neighbor's wife; whoever touches her will not go unpunished.
30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry;
31 but when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; he must give all the substance of his house.
32 The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; he who would destroy himself does it.
33 Wounds and disgrace he will find, and his reproach will not be blotted out.
34 For jealousy enrages a man, and he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will not accept any ransom, nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts.
What was said above applies, not just to women of ill repute, but also to your neighbor’s wife. She doesn’t belong to you. So then, leave her alone. She looks very desirable, but nothing is more deceiving. Playing with such dangerous fire will destroy you.
This chapter lists some of the most dangerous traps that you will encounter. Be wise, and avoid them all, and you will be a very happy man.
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