Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6:1-35

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,

have given your pledge for a stranger,

 if you are snared in the words of your mouth,

caught in the words of your mouth,

 then do this, my son, and save yourself,

for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:

go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.

 Give your eyes no sleep

and your eyelids no slumber;

 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

 like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

• Pretty straightforward, but I'll explain nonetheless:  DON'T co-sign on a loan for another.  You're just asking for trouble.
• "I'll vouch for him" is nice, but it's risky at best.
• But if you already have, get out of it as fast as you can.  Not "when you can get to it", but make it top priority.  
• If you are asked to do so, gently turn it down.  Run away.

 Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

 Without having any chief,

 officer, or ruler,

 she prepares her bread in summer

and gathers her food in harvest.

• Ants work hard.  God provides for those who work hard.  Your efforts will not be wasted.
• She "prepares".  She doesn't expect all things will work out.  
• This does not mean you can't trust God.  This simply means that God gave you two arms, two legs and a brain.  Use them.  He will fill in the gaps and ensure you are whole.  
• The ant doesn't need to be directed to do what she knows needs to be done.  She just does it.  
• Summary:  We should be as diligent and hard-working as the ant.  

 How long will you lie there, O sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep?

 A little sleep, a little slumber,

 a little folding of the hands to rest,

 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

• Pretty blunt truth here.  Something many Americans need to hear.  Don't expect anything.  You're entitled to nothing.  Work for it.  If you rest, don't expect the reward.

 A worthless person, a wicked man,

goes about with crooked speech,

 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,

points with his finger,

 with perverted heart devises evil,

continually sowing discord;

 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

 in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

• I've met this guy.  So have you.   Many voted for him ;)
• Don't be this person.  It will not work out.  Even if it seems to work out short term, time will come when it will bite you ... hard.

 There are six things that the Lord hates,

 seven that are an abomination to him:

 haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

 a heart that devises wicked plans,

 feet that make haste to run to evil,

 a false witness who breathes out lies,

and one who sows discord among brothers.

• Pretty specific.  Let's go through each one:
• Haughty eyes - the non-verbal "I'm better than you" arrogance of a Bill Mahr type.
• Lying tongue - enough said.
• Hands that shed innocent blood - think business decisions that could impact the innocent, abortion, careless driving, and so on
• Devising wicked plans - Even planning is wrong, whether you do it or not.  Jesus said, "If you look at a woman lustfully, you have already committed adultery".  It's what's in your heart that matters.
• Hasty feet - eager for the short term opportunity, even though you know it's wrong
• False witness - Lying for someone else
• Sowing discord - Causing trouble, starting rumors, etc.

 My son, keep your father's commandment,

 and forsake not your mother's teaching.

 Bind them on your heart always;

 tie them around your neck.

• Commit their teachings to your heart.  
• This is assuming your parents are followers and understand scripture.
• Remind yourself of their teachings often.

 When you walk, they will lead you;

 when you lie down, they will watch over you;

and when you awake, they will talk with you.

• Memorization of scripture is a really good idea.  This way, the right verses will come to you like a muscle reflex whenever you're faced with something.  
• Then, whatever you do, you will know the right course to take.

 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,

and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

• Ever walk through the woods when camping without a flashlight?  You will trip, you will run into a tree.  You need a light.  
• And the only way you'll fully absorb the teachings is through self-discipline and help from accountability partners, pastors, priests, et al.  You can't do it alone.  Not fully.

 to preserve you from the evil woman,

from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

 Do not desire her beauty in your heart,

and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;

• You WILL be tempted.  Count on it.  It will happen daily.
• "If you aren't running up against the enemy, it may mean that you're walking along with him."  -- Pastor Dan
• It's not enough to stay away from your temptations.  You must rid them from your thoughts completely.  
• A heart and mind that is focused on sin is not focused on God.  You can only serve one god.  It's either THE God, or your own god - your forbidden fruit (whatever that is).

 for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread,

but a married woman hunts down a precious life.

 Can a man carry fire next to his chest

and his clothes not be burned?

 Or can one walk on hot coals

and his feet not be scorched?

• Do you think you can walk through the fire of sin and not get burnt?
• It's bad enough to go a prostitute, but to another man's wife?  

 So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife;

none who touches her will go unpunished.

 People do not despise a thief if he steals

to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,

 but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold;

he will give all the goods of his house.

• There are penalties for sin.  This is just a fact.  
• Luckily we have our Savior Jesus who wipes our past slate clean if we acknowledge we can't beat sin on our own, we repent (turn away) from sin, and begin living by His instructions like any sane person who truly believes someone has their best interests at heart.  
• Without Jesus, we will pay.

 He who commits adultery lacks sense;

he who does it destroys himself.

 He will get wounds and dishonor,

and his disgrace will not be wiped away.

• Every force is met with an equal and opposite force.  
• I think, if we've learned lessons, then we do it again, we must lack sense.  Repeating the same thing multiple times and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.
• Once dishonored, it's hard to regain a reputation.  It's hard to regain trust.  To get back to ground zero.

 For jealousy makes a man furious,

and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

 He will accept no compensation;

he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

• A jealous spouse will make an adulterer pay.  And the pay they are looking for is exponentially more than anything expected.  
• The only way to avoid significant wrath is to stay away.  Just don't.