Read: Pr. 22-24
Solomon gives us thirty bits of advise that he is passing on to his sons and daughters. Many of them have to do with who you eat with. It is not as simple as just having a meal with a person but it means being an intimate friend. It is someone you would have into your house and share your secrets with. Make sure the person you don’t choose to be one of your close friends is not an angry person. They are the people who never have anything nice to say about anything - the “Debbie-downers”. Their bad attitude will rub off on you and their perspective will be come yours.
Another person he warns us not to eat with are stingy people. These are the reluctant givers who are always thinking about how much you are costing them. What they do for you will always be brought back up and used against you and any compliment you give them will be a wasted.
When you dine with someone who is someone with power be very discerning and hold back from taking too much because it might be a bribe that will be used against you. The next sentence has to do with wearing yourself out to get rich. Even rulers have discernment to know who is trying to use them for their personal gain.
Changing topics, I was reading about he result of a study on today’s parenting. Most parents today disagree with spanking and do “time out” instead. Proverbs 23:13-14 specifically says: “Don’t fail to discipline your children. The rod of punishment won’t kill them. Physical discipline may well save them from death.” The King James says “beat him with a rod”. I looked up ‘beat’ and it meant to strike lightly or severely. Instead of “save them from death”, the King James says “deliver his soul from hell”. I don’t see any “time out” in that scripture.
Solomon instructs the child to listen to his father and mother and to keep his heart on the right course. He warns them of carousing with drunkards and eating with gluttons who are on their way to poverty and ruin.
Lord, help us to be good friends to wise people, to listen attentively to our elders and to discipline our children rightly.
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