Proverbs 23 - Sins to Avoid

 

Proverbs 23 – Sins to Avoid

 

Who people are is not ultimately defined by their words but by their hearts. Even though a miser may say, Eat and drink!, his gift of sickening food exposes the selfish, stingy attitude within. Do not get friendly with miserly people. No matter how much they offer you, their hearts are not with you. It is not the food on the table but the love in the heart that makes fellowship real and lasting.

 

A Christian home is especially equipped to prepare a young person for life and eternity and the reality of knowing God in a personal way. Biblical parental discipline often paves the way for making a lifelong commitment to Christ in one’s youth. Discipline your children so that they might have wisdom and bring you joy. No matter what other families do, do not envy sinners but trust the Lord and obey Him. Set a good example by respecting your parents.

 

Those who imbibe wine are used here to typify people who will tempt and influence someone with good morals to do wrong. Those who lead one of God’s children into addictive or detrimental habits should be avoided at all costs. (Isa. 5:22, Rom. 13:13). Do not mix with drunkards and gluttons lest you become like them. Do not even look at the drink lest you end up embarrassed and bruised.

 

The father’s urgent appeal relates to the dangers of sexual sin. He warns of two kinds of immoral women: the unmarried and the married. Sexual temptation is powerful, with devastating consequences, and men are very vulnerable in this area.

 

People who are given to drunkenness often find other excesses and negative habits cropping up in their lives, such as poverty, misery, immorality, or instability. Nothing is glamorous about addiction. Anesthetizing oneself will destroy a person’s life, undermining confidence, and respect, desensitizing them to others; and creating a black hole of despair.

 

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Nelson’s Quick Reference Commentary.

Dr. David Jeremiah Study Bible.