He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Sources Of Ruin For Our Lives: Uncontrolled
Lusts: Proverbs 23:1-3
1) When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee:
2) And put a knife to thy throat, if thou [be] a man given to appetite.
3) Be not desirous of his dainties: for they [are] deceitful meat.
Solomon
now shares with us teachings on many different sins that can ruin our lives…
EXPOSITION:
1) When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what [is] before thee:
1. When we share a meal with a ruler…
2. we are to be on guard and understand what we
are about to do.
If
we cannot control our fleshly desires, when we sit down to eat the delicious
food of the rulers, we are to be on high guard realizing we can be easily
persuaded to make unwise decisions. We
can be persuaded to make these decisions by those who are appealing to our
fleshly desires. This would apply to fleshly
appetites for food and drink, intimate relations, wealth, fame, etc.
“(For many walk, of whom I
have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies
of the cross of Christ: Whose end [is]
destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame,
who mind earthly things.) For our conversation is in
heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile
body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the
working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Philippians 3:18-21)
2) And put a knife to thy throat, if thou [be] a man given to appetite.
1. We are to be ready to take our life
2. If we are totally controlled by the hungers
of our flesh
We
are to be willing to give our all (including our physical life) before we
compromise our stand for Christ…
This
statement is similar to Matthew 18:7-9…
“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that
offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Wherefore if thy hand or
thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast [them] from thee: it is better for
thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two
feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast [it] from thee: it
is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes
to be cast into hell fire.”
3) Be not desirous of his dainties: for they [are] deceitful meat.
1.
do not long uncontrollably for his delicacies
2. they are meant to deceive and manipulate
Many
times, those who live for wealth and power seek to control others for their
selfish purposes. They will use bribery
and manipulation through temptation that is centered on our fleshly desires.
“Set a watch, O LORD,
before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to [any] evil thing, to practise wicked works with
men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.” (Psalms 141:3-4)
SUMMARY:
Our fleshly desires can be
a very weak point for a Christian. Many
times, in pursuit of their fulfillment our service to the Lord can become
greatly compromised, our testimony destroyed, and many future opportunities for
service to the Lord lost.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org
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Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com
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