We continue on with the section called "Thirty Sayings Of The Wise".
"When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive." (Proverbs 23:1-3) This is social and dietary advice. It's unseemly to gorge ourselves when invited to the home of someone with authority over us. Solomon says to have the proper manners at the table. He's also telling us to be careful about eating rich food we aren't used to eating. It won't be very attractive at all if we become sick at the table.
"Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." (Proverbs 23:4-5) It's unhealthy to be workaholics. The Lord wants us to have a good balance in our lives between work and leisure. I doubt anyone on their deathbed ever said, "Gosh, I wish I'd spent more time at work!" If we have any regrets on our deathbeds, they will be about not spending more time with our families or about not getting more enjoyment out of life while we were still physically able to go places and experience new things.
"Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of person who is always thinking about the cost. 'Eat and drink,' he says to you, but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments." (Proverbs 23:6-8) At the beginning of the chapter we were told what is not acceptable behavior at the table of our host. Now Solomon talks about the host whose behavior is not acceptable. Wouldn't it be miserable to eat dinner with someone who doesn't really want to share? Solomon says, "By the time you get home, he will have made you so nervous that you will throw up the little bit you were able to eat. It's better to turn down the dinner invitation of someone whose heart isn't in it."
"Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words." (Proverbs 23:9) The Lord Jesus said something similar when He advised us not to cast our pearls to the swine in Matthew 7:6. There are some folks who will ask us religious questions not because they want to learn anything, but because they want to argue with us. They want to mock our faith. Solomon says, "Don't bother wasting your time with this. It doesn't honor the Lord to get caught up in foolish arguments that are going nowhere." There are some people who are willing to hear our testimonies of faith and there are some who only bring up the subject in order to stir up controversy. It's wise to know the difference. The only way we can testify to those who mock the Lord is by living honorable lives and by allowing them to see faith in action. They will pay more attention to how we live than to what we say.
I often think of this saying which is attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi, "Preach the gospel, and if necessary, use words." The message of the gospel is spread not only in words, but in actions. Words are cheap; the world is watching to see if we practice what we preach. It's no use to talk the talk if we don't walk the walk. Unbelievers know the difference. They can spot hypocrisy from a mile away. We may not be able to reach some of our acquaintances with words, but our mode of living will have an impact on them. As Christians we are to be about our Father's business, preaching the gospel at all times in both words and deeds. It's wise to do an occasional spiritual checkup to see if our actions are matching our words. Are we living out our faith on a daily basis? Are we treating others as we would have them treat us? Are we showing the love of Christ to our fellow man? Are we exhibiting trust in our Savior even when it seems like the world is falling down around us? These are the things that will have the most influence on unbelievers. We must preach the gospel in words to those willing to listen, but we must preach the gospel in actions to those whose hearts are hard.
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