Scripture reveals to us the character of God. We can learn the rules that He has built into the world by observing the way the world around us this operates. We can learn of the Lord’s wise creativity by getting outside and observing the wonders of this world—the sunsets and salt water (at least in Pensacola). However, natural revelation is not enough. We can personally know who this One is who created us and rules over His creation only through His Word.
Scripture tells us not only about the Lord who made us, but also about how He requires us to obey. The Bible tells us about the rewards if we obey, and the warnings if we do not. Proverbs 6-8 focus on the warnings. If we do not follow the wise ways laid out in the book of Proverbs, we can expect certain consequences. Proverbs 6 can fittingly be entitled “Wisdom’s Warnings, Part 2.”
The first warning in the chapter is about financial issues. Verses 1-11 describe the danger. The wise father cautions his son about “surety,” or legally obligating himself to cover another person’s debt should they default. The father is warning his son, “Don’t be a cosigner on a loan for a friend. It’s a trap (vv. 2, 5)!” You can sense the urgency of the father when he instructs his son that if he’s already made a verbal agreement to cosign, but he has not yet signed the paper, “Deliver thyself! Go, humble thyself” to your friend and get yourself out of that dangerous situation.
Another financial warning concerns the role of diligence in wealth. In verses 6-11 the father tells his son that people should be self-starters; they should be motivated and disciplined. The father uses the ant, an example from God’s creation, as an illustration. Ant don’t have a guide, an overseer, or a ruler (v. 7), but they are wise because they prepare for the future. The contrasting attitude is of the sluggard in verses 6 and 9. The slothful man is lazy, unmotivated, and undisciplined. He lives for today and he ignores tomorrow. The unwise sluggard sleeps his life away and, predictably, ends up in poverty (v. 11).
The second warning after the financial warning is about frowardness. This warning can be found in verses 12-19. The “froward mouth” is mentioned in verse 12, and “frowardness” is mentioned again in verse 14. To be "froward" means to be perverse or crooked. A similar descriptive word also found in Proverbs 6 is “naughty,” found in verse 12. A naughty person is a worthless or good-for-nothing person. In our sensitive culture it is unpopular to refer to people as worthless, but our sensitive culture is incorrect. It is biblically correct to call people who behave in a certain way worthless. The father warns his son that he will become good-for-nothing if he lives a life of frowardness, that is, perverseness from the ways of the Lord’s wisdom. If we are confused about what froward actions look like, Solomon lists some froward behaviors and people in verses 16-19. Unsurprisingly, these people and actions are also things that God hates. I encourage you to take som time to read through that list. By spending so much time describing frowardness, Solomon is saying, “I warn you son, don’t be involved in frowardness of any type. God hates that.”
The third warning in Proverbs 6 concerns the family, and is described in verses 20-23. Solomon instructs his son and other young men and women to do what their godly parents tell them. If they will obey, the wise words of their parents will be a light to them in the midst of darkness. Similar instruction has already been given in Proverbs 1:8-9. The times of reproof and instruction are like lights that can mark the path of the way of life (v. 23). Solomon’s warning is not to forget those times of instruction.
The fourth warning from this wise father concerns the issue of evil females. We find this warning in verses 24-35. Notice the phrase is in verse 25: “in thine heart.” A man’s interest in wickedness of all kinds, and of a “whorish woman” in particular, always starts in his heart. Verse 27 asks, “Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned?“ The obvious answer is no. No more can this son harbor unchecked lust in his heart and lust after any female to whom he is not married, without that lust ruining his life. Long before an adulterous affair takes place, there is an unchecked heart ruminating about wickedness.
If a man man harbors lust long enough so that he acts it out and sleeps with another man’s wife, the wise father warns his son that the consequences will be swift and harsh. “Jealousy is the rage of a man; therefore, he will not spare in the day of vengeance (v. 34).” In other words, "That husband will come for you.” According to verse 35, it is very likely that permanent damage will be done.
The urgent warning from wisdom is serious. All of wisdom’s warnings are serious. Wisdom issues a financial warning and a warning against frowardness. Proverbs 6 is also reminds us to embrace the instruction of a godly family. Finally, the wise father tells the son to avoid evil females at all costs, because ultimately those evil women could cost him everything.
If you haven’t already, be sure to read Proverbs 6 on your own, and discover what the Lord can teach you from Proverbs 6.
The above article was written by James C. Johnson. He is the pastor of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
Every Tuesday, SFL publishes relevant Bible-based content. Check back next Tuesday to read the next SFL article.
More Strength for Life...
John 3 includes one of John the Baptist's most famous statements: "He must increase, but I must decrease. From the life of a man that knew his place, we learn lessons about how to properly exalt the Lord Jesus Christ.
Comments