Proverbs 23 – 24
Verse 23:4 had me scratching my head for a bit:
Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist.
I needed to look up “desist” to ensure I understood what was being said here. Basically it is saying don’t work yourself into the grave trying to get rich. Now it’s not saying don’t work hard, but rather don’t make money your focus. Because hard word can be ended for the next day, but the quest for more money seems to consume one’s life. There is a reason Jesus chastises the “love of money” because it will take ones focus away from God.
Verses 23:13 – 14 is not something parents are allowed to do these days:
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14 If you strike him with the rod,
you will save his soul from Sheol.
These are the “spare the rod, spoil the child” verses. Notice that phases is not here, but rather a paraphrase that people use to condense these verses. Now the problem today is you have a few who have taken this to the extreme and severely injured children. These emotional scars are then applied to all who are “spanked” and told how it’s wrong. For some reason a red behind tends to leave a greater impression that taking something away. Here Solomon is confirming this. Also notice where it’s saving the children from; Shoel or hell!
I think the “fall out” from these “pop psychologists” are just now being seen in today’s society. Where younger people I work with get chastised for using their phone during working hours and this gets ignored by them. There are no consequences in their mind, “the toy will be taken away for an hour and I will get it back” is the mindset. Whereas I have been called out on using the phone too much and it has been in the pocket most of the day since. I was spanked; these co-workers appear not to have been.
Verse 24:13 – 14 ties searching for wisdom to eating sweets:
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
I wish more people would strive for wisdom like they do treats. This can be seen today more than ever, where people are looking for “things” to satisfy their soul like that drip of honey. We as a society are focused more on things than knowledge and I am guilty as charged. I look for money often times more than wisdom. When we focus on stuff we lose focus on God, where searching for wisdom will bring us closer to Him! Strive for God first and hopefully things will follow, if not your attention will not be drawn away in the quest for wisdom.
Verses 24:33 – 34 end a series of proverbs that start in verse 30 about laziness:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.
I often hear people focus more on rest and relaxation than on actual output. People can get lulled into this do it tomorrow for today I am tired. This mentality is infectious and I personally see it in my physical condition. I use to run marathons and long distances at a rather healthy pace, where today I am 30 to 40 pounds over my running weight. I can’t run more than two miles without cramping and get winded easily. I took the rest mentality too far and now get discouraged thinking what it will take to just get 20 pounds off. So I rest and my health has been hit by the same robber. Time to change this mentality, work hard and rest one day … not rest 6 to get discouraged on the 7th!!