Be Careful

Be Careful When Among The Powerful

Proverbs 23:1-3 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

Jesus often used exaggeration (also called hyperbole or overstatement) to shock or wake up His listeners to a Biblical truth. For instance, in:

Matthew 5:29-30 (ESV) If your RIGHT EYE CAUSES YOU TO SIN, TEAR IT OUT and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into HELL. 30 And if your RIGHT HAND CAUSES YOU TO SIN, CUT IT OFF and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into HELL.

Does Jesus actually expect you to rip out your eye, or cut off your hand? No. But Jesus was imparting to the crowd the horror that is sin, and the horror that unconfessed and unrepented sin can bring us to. Sin is not a small thing, but a big barrier. The “wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). It would be horrible to rip out an eye, or cut off a hand. As horrendous as the pain is – or even the thought of doing it – the ripped out eye or cut off hand is but temporary pain. You can get over it. BUT HELL IS FOREVER TORMENT, forever separation from God. My commentary notes:

“Jesus uses vivid imagery to convey the gravity of sin, urging His followers to take drastic measures to avoid temptation and sin. The disciples hang on his every word, grappling with the radical nature of his teachings and the call to live a life of holiness and purity. The scene is a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of Jesus’ words and the profound depth of His love and grace.”

In another case Jesus told His followers:

John 6:53-58 (HCSB) Jesus said to them, I assure you: UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU DO NOT HAVE LIFE IN YOURSELVES. 54 Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day, 55 because My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. 56 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood lives in Me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna your fathers ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.

Did Jesus expect His disciples to cannibalize Him? No. But what He was saying was being saved is more than mere acknowledgment of Jesus – He must be an intimate part of your life.

As Israel ate manna, and the manna became part of their daily lives, we have in intimate daily relationship with Jesus. We cannot go without Him even ONE DAY without hungering for Him – IF we are saved.

It is hyperbole. Solomon uses hyperbole in this verse.

Proverbs 23:1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently WHAT is before thee

Word Study: How do people get to be “RULERS”? They watch those around them, and figure out ways that they can manipulate people in order to gain power or riches. The word translated “WHAT” is the Hebrew ăšer (pro. ash-er’), which is a primitive relative pronoun. Though it can mean “WHAT”, the primary use of the word is “WHO”. Consider who invited you to eat. The fact that great delicacies are set before you may not be because the ruler likes you, but he may be trying to sway you or bribe you away from the right path.

When Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah (Daniel 1:6) were taken into Babylonian captivity, the first thing the rulers did was give them new names:

Daniel 1:7 (ESV) And the chief of the eunuchs GAVE THEM NAMES: Daniel he called BELTESHAZZAR, Hananiah he called SHADRACH, Mishael he called MESHACH, and Azariah he called ABEDNEGO.

To manipulate someone, change their identities. They were given names at birth, by loving and godly parents. “DANIEL” means “God is my Judge”. He was renamed “BELTESAZZAR”, which means “Lord of the exiles treasures”. Those riches that were taken from those who were in Babylonian exile were put in a treasury, and Daniel was the watcher of that treasury. “Hananiah” which means “God has favored” was renamed “SHADRACH” which means “A Great Scribe”. “Mishael” which means “who is what God is” was renamed “MESHACH”, meaning “Guest of the King”. And “Azariah” which means “Yahweh has helped me” was renamed “ABEDNEGO”, which means “The Servant of Nebo” who was a Babylonian god. Their names or identities were all changed from Godly to ungodly, from Heavenly to worldly. But we read:

Daniel 1:8-9 (ESV) But Daniel resolved that he would NOT DEFILE HIMSELF WITH THE KING’S FOOD, OR WITH THE WINE THAT HE DRANK. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. 9 And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs

Daniel and his friends could not control the change of their names, but they could control what they ate. They requested that they not be given the rich foods that the King offered them, but they stayed with the simple food and drink. Daniel and his friends realized that they were not being honored, but manipulated, and that their captors were trying to subvert their faith in God.

Proverbs 23:1-3 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently WHO is before thee: 2 And PUT A KNIFE TO THY THROAT, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for THEY ARE DECEITFUL MEAT.

The rich rulers became rich by manipulation and coercion. Do not fall into their trap. What they offer, and what they have, is fleeting.

Riches Are Fleeting

Proverbs 23:4-5 Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Riches and fame come and go. Sherry and I have been watching the old show “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet”, which ran 14 seasons from 1952-1966. It began on the radio first, and is considered one of the longest running family sitcoms in U.S. television history. Though immensely popular, every member of the cast has passed away. Ozzie died of liver cancer (1975), Harriet of heart failure (1994). David from colon cancer (2011), and Ricky in a plane crash (1985). The riches and fame are gone. They “fly away as an eagle toward heaven”. I noticed on their show – unlike the Andy Griffith Show – they never discussed God, Church, nor prayed over meals. I often wonder if any of those on the show – which I love to watch – are today in Heaven or hell.

The best life is the one that follows Jesus. Rather than labor for temporary wealth – which is fleeting – labor for the Lord. The Bible says:

Hebrews 13:5-6 (ESV) Keep your life FREE FROM LOVE OF MONEY, and BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE, for He {our Lord Jesus} has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

That is the greatest of riches, that the “Lord is my Helper; I will not fear”. God puts a hedge around those who love Him. We should not be concerned about the riches of this world, but rather “the riches of God’s Grace!”

Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) In {Jesus} we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the RICHES OF HIS GRACE

I love preaching what Paul called …

Ephesians 3:8 (KJV) …. the UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST

The riches of this world come and go. But the riches we have through faith in Jesus never pass away!

Beware Of The Evil Eye

Proverbs 23:6-7 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an EVIL EYE, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For AS HE THINKETH IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but HIS HEART IS NOT WITH THEE.

Word Study: The words rendered “EVIL EYE” is the Hebrew raʿ ʿayin, which means what it says. “EVIL EYE”. What in the world is an evil eye? In the previous chapter we read:

Proverbs 22:9 (KJV) He that hath a BOUNTIFUL EYE shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

The “BOUNTIFUL EYE” is the person who is generous to others, who cares more for people than for riches and money. The person with the “EVIL EYE” is someone who loves money and is covetous, seeking to grab all that they can. The King James uses the phrase “EVIL EYE” in two other places:

Proverbs 28:2 (NKJV) A man with an EVIL EYE hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.

This person will do anything he can do to get his riches – even if it hurts others. If a covetous person, a person who loves money, invites you to eat at his table, it is not because he likes you, but because he is looking for a handle that he can use you by.

You’ve probably met people like this. I have.

1. The person with the evil eye doesn’t want to hang out with you, or even come to your Church. They only come around when they need something.

2. The person with the evil eye never considers that you might need something. The covetous covet – they build their own kingdoms, and don’t care if they step on you as they climb the ladder.

3. The person with the evil eye is self centered and selfish. Life rotates around them, or their organization, and no one else.

4. The person with the evil eye will make promises that they will not keep, and concessions that they will not follow through on. When Ray Kroc convinced the McDonald brothers to sell their name along with their business, Kroc and the brothers made a handshake deal that they would be given future royalty payments. Kroc gave the brothers 2.7 million dollars in 1961, but later refused to pay the royalty payments, as it was not in writing. This cost the brothers and their families over $100 million per year.

5. The person with the evil eye will be back, if you ever give them anything. They do not care about draining your resources, or ruining your life. They will not compromise in their coveting.

RUN FROM THESE PEOPLE!

These are people with defiled hearts. Jesus said:

Mark 7:20-23 (KJV) … That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an EVIL EYE, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

As Solomon said, “HIS HEART IS NOT WITH THEE”. They don’t care about you. Run, run away! If you do not, then the warning is:

Proverbs 23:8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.

If you eat with the person that has the evil eye, if you sit at his table, that little bit you get will come back up on you. John Gill wrote in his commentary:

“It shall turn in thy stomach, thou shall not be able to keep it, when thou understandest thou art not welcome; or thou wilt wish thou hadst never eaten a bit, or that thou couldest vomit up what thou hast; so disagreeable is the thought of being unwelcome, or when this appears to be the case; and lose thy sweet words; expressed in thankfulness to the master of the feast, in praise of his food, in pleasantry with him, and the other guests at table; all which are repented of when a man finds he is not welcome.”

Or as my mama used to say, “You will rue the day!”

Proverbs 23:9 Speak not in the ears of a FOOL: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

I believe in sharing the Gospel with everyone. I love to broadcast the truth of Christ’s glorious Gospel. Yet some people, when you share Bible truth with them, are clearly godless. Jesus told His disciples:

Matthew 7:6 (ESV) Do not give DOGS what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before PIGS, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

The Bible uses the words “DOG” and “PIG” or swine metaphorically. Jesus is not talking about literal dogs or pigs, but people who are lost and are determined to stay lost. We should share the Gospel with whosoever will, because Jesus Christ died for the world (John 3:16). I never miss a chance to speak to or pray for others in the name of Jesus. Jesus told His disciples:

Matthew 10:14 (ESV) And if anyone will not receive you OR LISTEN TO YOUR WORDS, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. (see also Luke 9:5; Mark 6:11)

My commentary notes:

“There was a spiritual significance to a disciple of Jesus shaking the dust off his feet. It was a statement of finality about people who had been given the truth and who had rejected it. On their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas put Jesus’ words into practice. They had been preaching in Pisidian Antioch, but some of the Jewish leaders of that city stirred up persecution against the missionaries and had them expelled from the region. “So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium” (Acts 13:51). Antioch may not have welcomed the gospel as they should have, but that didn’t keep the message from spreading to other areas. Paul and Barnabas had done all they were sent to do, and the responsibility was now on the shoulders of those in Antioch. The apostles had proclaimed truth boldly. Some had accepted it eagerly; some had rejected it with violence. The apostles were not responsible for the Antiochians’ level of acceptance, only for their own obedience to God.”

We are to tell others about Jesus, to share His truth with them – and if they will not hear, it’s on them, not on us. We are responsible to be obedient to God, but we are not responsible for making others believe, or for taking the punishment for what they themselves choose to do. God told the Prophet:

Ezekiel 3:16-19 (ESV) … the word of the LORD came to me: 17 Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, YOU SHALL GIVE THEM WARNING FROM ME. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and YOU GIVE HIM NO WARNING, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but HIS BLOOD I WILL REQUIRE AT YOUR HAND. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and HE DOES NOT TURN from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

Our responsibility is to tell others. But we are not to chase the fool who will not listen. That’s not our calling. We are to give God’s Word as HE presented it. Yet some people will mock at or sneer at the Biblical truth.

Proverbs 29:9 (ESV) If a wise man has an argument with a fool,the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

Trying to teach someone divine wisdom while they reject divine wisdom is a waste of time. Only God can change the heart of a person. We need not wear ourselves out trying to be God.