Proverbs – Day 6
Scripture: Proverbs 6
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—
and give your neighbor no rest!
Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!
It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.
How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?
A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
and poverty will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.
A troublemaker and a villain,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
who winks maliciously with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,
who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up conflict.
Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
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 who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
My son, keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.
When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
For this command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
are the way to life,
keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes.
For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
but another man’s wife preys on your very life.
Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?
Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?
So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.
People do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
But a man who commits adultery has no sense;
whoever does so destroys himself.
Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never be wiped away.
For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.
Devotional:
Have you ever loaned someone money and later regretted it? Maybe it was even a relative who proved to be unreliable. Sometimes, unfortunate circumstances happen to people, but more often it’s a lack of planning or sheer laziness that prevents them from repaying debt in a timely fashion. Solomon has words for both people in this situation.
On the one hand, we say, we shouldn’t loan money to others. With personal loans, this can result in defaulting on the loan and ruining the relationship. It’s better to counsel the person to save instead and prioritize their spending. Often we buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like.
On the other hand, if you are in someone else’s debt, including a bank, don’t delay in paying back what you owe. The average American with credit cards owes $16,000 on those cards, apart from other loans for education, cars, and mortgages. It’s no surprise that when we entered a recession, so many families struggled to make ends meet. Solomon looks to nature and instructs us to study ants who, in seasons of plenty, prepare for the winter. In fact, whether or not you’re in debt, learning to manage your finances wisely will reward you. You may have short-term needs like paying monthly bills, long-term plans to save for a new car, children, college, or retirement. Then there’s the unpredictability of the economy that could result in a job loss. You’re never too young or old to talk to mentors or take a class like a Crown Financial workshop to learn how to manage your money in a way that honors God.
Key Verses:
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” ~ Proverbs 6:6-8
Questions:
- What did you learn from your parents growing up about managing money?
- What practical steps can you take today to improve your financial situation?
