Our theme for this month: “Wisdom”
Our Bible verse for today: “Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.” Proverbs 6:6
Our thought for today: “We learn from both positive and negative examples.”
Throughout most of the Proverbs King Solomon portrays wisdom in a positive light and illustrates the benefits of wisely choosing to live according to Biblical principles. But Proverbs six is different. In this chapter Solomon approached the subject from a negative perspective in order to illustrate some of the most common problems people bring upon themselves when they do not live with Biblical wisdom.
In verses 1-5 he illustrated the folly of entangling yourself in financial affairs with unreliable people. Verse one seems to be referring to the modern day practice of co-signing a loan. Solomon called that a trap from which we will find ourselves begging and pleading for a way out. Biblical wisdom will provide us with the insight we need into the character of unreliable people so we can avoid financial entanglements with them.
In verses 6-11 he addressed the issue of laziness and how it produces a life of poverty. Biblically, God has commanded us to work to earn our own living. He has taught us to be diligent and honest and to be the best employees in the workplace. He has also instructed us about our responsibility to be such good workers – such good earners – that we not only take care of our own needs through our own labor, but we also provide assistance for the genuinely poor such as widows and orphans. In this passage he illustrates that beyond not being able to provide assistance to others in need, the lazy man doesn’t even meet his own needs and therefore ends up living in abject poverty as a result. This kind of wasted life is the exact opposite of what the Bible calls for.
In verses 12-15 Solomon writes of how a malicious, gossipy, slanderous person will eventually get what’s coming to them. In verses 16-19 the subject is of how the Lord will punish those who behave in ways that He hates. And in verses 20-35 he concludes with a long section about the evils of adultery and the punishments which will ultimately be suffered as a result of it.
Solomon’s point is all of this? Simply to illustrate, by means of negative examples, that the person who chooses to live in ways contrary to God’s will, will suffer for it. In the Bible God gave us very clear and specific instructions about how to live in a manner pleasing to Him – anything less than that is unbiblical and will result in pain and suffering. It is the wise person who simply trusts God and lives accordingly, and we can learn that from both positive and negative examples.
God Bless,
Oak Hill Baptist Church 