Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Proverbs 23:4-9 Wise Words From Wise Men 1d

Friday, April 21, 2023

Proverbs 23:4–9

[4] Do not toil to acquire wealth;

be discerning enough to desist.

[5] When your eyes light on it, it is gone,

for suddenly it sprouts wings,

flying like an eagle toward heaven.

[6] Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy;

do not desire his delicacies,

[7] for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.

“Eat and drink!” he says to you,

but his heart is not with you.

[8] 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. (ESV)

Wise Words From Wise Men 1d

v.4-5 These verses are a proverb against ambition for acquiring wealth left unchecked. Doing so will cause damage to both body and soul, relationships with family and neighbors, and creates enemies. Again, wealth in and of itself is not evil, but making it your god by lusting after it at the expense of all else is. These verses also describe the futility of such activity because earthly riches are fleeting. As soon as you have "made it," this life will end. We are supposed to be wise enough to discern when we have enough, and accumulating more is just an exercise in futility. When we die, all our stuff gets passed along to someone else. Many will never have this problem, and most are in between poverty and having so much that we do not know what to do with it. As in all things, prayer for Divine Wisdom focuses us on what matters—our relationship with Christ and one another.

v.6-8 These verses are the last in the series of six economic proverbs. This one focuses on the stingy person and the lack of sincerity inherent in such a person. Here we see him described as one who invites guests to eat and drink at his table, while all the while calculating what it is costing him and balancing that against what he can potentially gain from them in return. This scheming will eventually be exposed and spoil both the party and, eventually, the friendship. Jesus teaches us the proper motive for hospitality in Luke 14:7-14 (especially 12-14). Jesus also gives good and bad examples of the behavior of guests and hosts in Luke 7:36-50. Ultimately, He is the greatest example of the perfect host who gives everything of Himself for His guests, even His life. He feeds us the food of immortality out of nothing but love for His creation.

v.9 If Solomon wrote this today, he would write, "You can't fix stupid," or perhaps, "Don't argue with idiots on the internet." Trying to correct a fool by direct instruction is a waste of time because he will only despise your good sense, says Solomon. It is better to find ways of communicating correction indirectly than by frontal assault so the receiver does not feel personally attacked, even going as far as to find an intermediary who has a better relationship with them to bring up the subject. We mean well when we try to correct someone, but the head-on approach causes a natural defensiveness that shuts down our receptiveness. Sinners all, we let emotion override judgment.