Image: "A Mere Diversion," 2020, Severna Park, Md
Proverbs 5:8–9 Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house, 9 Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one;
Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He ponders all his paths.
Proverbs 6:1–2 My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.
Proverbs 6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,
Proverbs 6:16–19 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
__________________________________________________________________________________
It's easy to imagine Forrest Gump's mom repeating all the teachings of these chapters and the specific verses quoted above to her son. "Talk about stupid... let me tell you some things that are really stupid!" She would then go on to talk about the range of possible stupidities that may tempt a person.
This is the fundamental teaching of these verses: "These things are stupid! They lead to destruction and death! They are short term solutions that bring long term bad consequences. Don't even go there."
When we look at the subjects taken up they range from "fornication" (essentially sex with a prostitute), incurring financial obligations that result in debt, indolence, wickedness and falsity in character, 7 things that are an abomination to the LORD and "adultery" (sex with another man's wife.) If we stop and think about it these things pretty much describe the general tone and character of our entire cultural situation. I am tempted to say that the 7 things God hates are pretty much descriptive of any ordinary politician.
But, God says, these things are stupid. They do not bring profit or long term prosperity (whether spiritual or physical), but rather they are Siren songs that lure the foolhardy traveler to their doom.
The question that we face is simply this: "Do we really believe this!"
Clement of Alexander allegorically applied verses from these chapters to the general secular society of his day. He specifically spoke of the allure of a prostitute (Chapter 5) and spoke of how "she" draws the unsuspecting into her bedchamber and then gives him over to her companions who lie in wait. He is robbed not only of his dignity but of his goods... he is stripped of any remaining shreds of nobility and will have to wear the rags of shame. That is an awful thought.
Yet, how do we view the general allure of the society in which we live? Does it not advertise pleasure? Is there not a dependence of credit to get goods and services that we do not have sufficient funds to purchase outright? Do we think of debt as a gun aimed at our head which can be used against us at any time? Are we tolerant of slothfulness and actually tend to promote it through mistaken "charity" or aid? Do we really shun wicked people as chapter 6 describes them? I know that few of us associate with outright criminals but most often the character traits listed in 6:16-19 are fundamental to people we simply honor as "good business men" or accepted as "the way to get ahead."
The point is that we can all fall into stupidity simply by breathing the same air as the world around us. Like the proverbial frog in the kettle we don't sense the gradually increasing temperature of the water in which we swim. However we must realize - this is stupid!
God wants His people to form an entirely separate culture in the world. He wants us to be different so that we stand as a witness for a way of life that is not stupid. He wants us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" which means that we do not identify nor promote the evil character of the world around us.
It's simply a matter of being smart about these things.
Comments