Proverbs
6 reminds me of a quote by Warren Buffett, one of the richest men in
the world; his
goal was to “give his children enough money that they can do
anything but not so much that they can do nothing”.
Today’s chapter seems to mirror many father-son conversations with
young adults. Often multiple topics are raised with little real
dialog. I imagine the son just woke, while the dad has been working
all morning. Solomon brings up subjects based on his observations of
the day. Baffled by his son’s behavior, he jumps right in, “My
son,
if
you have put up security for your neighbor… you have been trapped
by what you said… free yourself“.
We know Solomon was wealthy beyond comprehension and it is likely
that his son was asked to co-sign on loans for friends. In no
uncertain terms he instructs, do
not take on someone else’s financial burden.
With all urgency he repeats himself, “Free
yourself… like a bird from the snare of the fowler“.
Financial counselors will agree, never co-sign unless you fully
expect to pay the total obligation of the debt. Before his son can
swallow his first bite of breakfast, he begins the next subject, “Go
to the ant, you sluggard… It has no commander… yet it stores its
provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest“.
Most young men do very little long-term planning. Dad seems to be
frustrated by his son’s living
for the moment attitude. Before
his son can say, “Do we have to have this conversation again?”,
he picks up the next subject. “How
long will you lie there, you sluggard? A little sleep, a little
slumber, a little folding of the hands… and poverty will come on
you like a bandit“.
God’s wisdom is for Monday
morning too.
Perhaps
seeing some evidence while the son slept, dad turns quickly to his
next topic. Parents can often spot a bad influence. My mother used
to say, “That kid is a sneak“.
Solomon warns about the “scoundrel…
with a corrupt mouth… who winks with his eye… and motions with
his fingers… he always stirs up dissension… disaster will
overtake him in an instant“.
Most kids dismiss our observation by saying, “You don’t even
know him!” Solomon does not back down. He lists “six
things the LORD hates“.
“Haughty
eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood… a heart that
devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a
false witness“. Jesus
said simply, “Let your ‘yes’
mean yes, and your ‘no’ mean no”
(Matt 5:37). Have you taken stock of your friends?
Before
his son can escape the breakfast table, Solomon finishes his list
with the big one. Keep away from “the
immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife“.
Cut this off before it begins, “Do
not lust in your heart after her beauty“.
He asks,
“Can
a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?”
He says bluntly, “So
is he who sleeps with another man’s wife…
no
one who touches her will go unpunished“.
There is no such thing as a casual fling with a married woman. He
makes it very clear to his son that
crimes of passion are always violent,
“for
jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will
show
no mercy when he takes revenge“.
Unlike any other sin, you cannot buy or reason your way out of this.
“He
will not accept any compensation; he will refuse the bribe“.
There is not a single area of your life that God does not care
about. Today is a perfect day to invest all that you have in His
truth.