S) "16 Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.
17 Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become weary of you and hate you."
Proverbs 25:16-17 (NASB)
O) The first thing I noticed about v.16, was the simple beauty about God's order of things. Our bodies are wonderfully built to reject what is bad for us. Eating too much sweet stuff will make us vomit, simply because it's bad for us. Unfortunately, humans are good at sinning. So, we can override a number of things that God gave us in nature, which are designed for our benefit, because the heart of man is desperately wicked (see Jeremiah 17:9). Then, I was thinking about v.17, and how Solomon didn't say anything about being a good neighbor. This really has nothing to do with how well people get along. Eventually, people get sick of other people being around. That's normal, I think. Everyone wants their space, a place of refuge, a sanctuary from the outside world. That place should be our own home. Even people who are gifted in hospitality have times when they need to sort of recharge. Initially, I thought these two verses were unrelated. After all, their instructions are about pretty different topics. However, the more I dug into what the first one meant, the more I realized the second verse is actually about the same thing. These are admonishing us to be more self-aware.
A) While I have always had a pretty clear understanding of myself, I have not always been good at seeing myself among others. That is, I have struggled to see how my self affected others (or, I struggled to care, even when I did see). Self-discipline is always hard and for me, food has been an area where I have not always cared to exercise more self-control, restraint, or discipline. So, I should certainly be more mindful about that. I think that things like "dieting" can do as much harm for our spirits as good for our health, but the simple aspect of evaluation is a good place to be. Solomon didn't say not to eat the honey, but to not have it in excess. We never really "need" honey from a strict physiological sense, but he's really just talking about moderation. That's a good principle for me in every physical appetite I can define. From entertainment, to sex, to food, to sleep. On the more external awareness, I need a lot more help, I think. It's usually easy for me to identify when I have "eaten too much honey," but knowing when I am exhausting the welcome of my neighbor is harder for me to see. In a very simple, practical sense, I actually love visiting friends and going over to their houses, and just hanging out. But, this obviously extends beyond that. I need to be prayerful about how I am impacting people around me. I shouldn't think more highly of myself than I ought (obviously), and I shouldn't obsess about what others think, but just asking God to help me maintain peace, that's certainly biblical (see also). My wife has also been a great blessing to me in this area. God has certainly brought me a long way from where I was, and Kristin has certainly been used in that area for me. I have room to grow, but I have testimony in that too.
A) While I have always had a pretty clear understanding of myself, I have not always been good at seeing myself among others. That is, I have struggled to see how my self affected others (or, I struggled to care, even when I did see). Self-discipline is always hard and for me, food has been an area where I have not always cared to exercise more self-control, restraint, or discipline. So, I should certainly be more mindful about that. I think that things like "dieting" can do as much harm for our spirits as good for our health, but the simple aspect of evaluation is a good place to be. Solomon didn't say not to eat the honey, but to not have it in excess. We never really "need" honey from a strict physiological sense, but he's really just talking about moderation. That's a good principle for me in every physical appetite I can define. From entertainment, to sex, to food, to sleep. On the more external awareness, I need a lot more help, I think. It's usually easy for me to identify when I have "eaten too much honey," but knowing when I am exhausting the welcome of my neighbor is harder for me to see. In a very simple, practical sense, I actually love visiting friends and going over to their houses, and just hanging out. But, this obviously extends beyond that. I need to be prayerful about how I am impacting people around me. I shouldn't think more highly of myself than I ought (obviously), and I shouldn't obsess about what others think, but just asking God to help me maintain peace, that's certainly biblical (see also). My wife has also been a great blessing to me in this area. God has certainly brought me a long way from where I was, and Kristin has certainly been used in that area for me. I have room to grow, but I have testimony in that too.
P) Father, Your ways are great. You have such a perfect, good, amazing plan for Your creation. You built amazing bodies, that regulate our health wonderfully, except where sin interferes. You also have such a great plan for relationships, too. In both of these areas, of self-control and self-awareness, I was hopeless when You found me. Thank You for the grace that has been at work in me, Lord. There is still more work to be done, and I know I won't be finished until I am glorified in Christ. But, I want to continue to grow in this, God. Please continue the good work You have started in me, until the day of completion when I am perfected at the resurrection. Help me to be more aware, internally and externally. Help me to listen to wise counsel, especially from my wife. In everything, be glorified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray, amen.
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