Day 544: Think twice - Proverbs 23 vs 1 - 9

1-3 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, observe carefully what (or who) is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for they are deceptive food. 4-5 Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. When your eyes light on it, it is gone, for suddenly it sprouts wings, flying like an eagle towards heaven.

6-8 Do not eat the bread of a man whose eye is evil (stingy); do not desire his delicacies, for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his  heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words. 9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words. Proverbs 23:1-9 English Standard Version

A song by a popular folk singer many years ago had the refrain “Don't think twice, it's alright.” That summed up the spirit of the age at that time when many young people were rushing into things like running away from home, taking drugs, and sleeping around. It was opposite to the advice the father gives his son in today's reading from Proverbs. He mentions some settings in which his son should 'think twice' rather than act on impulse.

Verse 1-3 could be like being invited to a function where royalty is present, or to a meal by a famous celebrity. While many would rush at such an opportunity, the father warns his son that the trappings of luxury can be deceptive. Don't be deceived by the glitz and glamour. The same is true in vs 4-5. The wealth of this world comes with wings. It’s not permanent. Apart from the possibility of stock markets crashing, it's also the damage that the love of riches can do to one's soul. The apostle Paul put it well when he said: “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many  pangs.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

So in the above situations the father urged his son to not to let his appetite make him rush after things, whether it was high society or wealth. He was rather to think first, and think again, and to consider the deeper implications. Jesus said: “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of one's possessions.” (Luke 12:15)

What would you say the father was warning about in vs 6-9?

I'd suggest he was warning against wasting one's time with people who are false. In the first example (vs 6-8) he spoke of someone who offers a favour, but you know their heart is not in it. In the second example (vs 9) he speaks of people whose morals are such that they will totally despise any truth you try to share. The word 'fool' in the Bible isn't used as an aggressive insult, but of those who are morally bankrupt. Jesus Himself once said “Don't give dogs what is holy, and don't throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6)

Now it's not that we don't wish such people would listen to God's words and be saved, and we must be ready and willing to spend time with any who showed signs of wanting to change. It also isn't talking of people who may not have heard of Jesus and so are, understandably, cautious and suspicious of the message we have. It's more about those who simply don't want to hear. Any pleasantries they show us are false. We must think twice about spending time with such people. Looking back on years in the ministry I know how easy it was to waste time on some who were only trying to exploit the kindness showed to them.

We must be careful of being led astray by our appetites, and we must be careful of being gullible. It's always better to 'think twice' before we rush into anything. Part of such thinking involves praying about issues and asking God for wisdom to apply His word into everything we do.