Proverbs 23 commands Christians to avoid evil, stingy, deceptive, people who pretend to be friendly and helpful, but who only think of themselves, and what they can get from others. This is what the Apostle Paul is telling us in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, but especially in verses 29-30, where Paul, using the propositional phrase, “For this reason”, bluntly says each individual before receiving the Communion, should closely examine ourselves, so we know we thoroughly understand how the body of “the Lord Christ” (Acts 2:36; Colossians 3:23-24) operates, for Christ, our Head is in heaven, and His body, the church is here on earth; thus, we must understand Christ, the Head, controls the function of His body on earth, so the will of the Father is accomplished; therefore, we must understand, from 1 Corinthians 12:26, what affects one body member, affects the entire body; thus, when one body member suffers, the whole body suffers, and when one body member is honored, the whole body rejoices.
Proverbs 23:1-35 commands honorable, honest, law abiding people, especially Christians, not to have close association with dishonorable, dishonest, lawless people, for it is a destructive blow to Christ’s body, the church, for a quick reading of 1 Corinthians 11:17-34, it appears Paul tells us “to examine ourselves” to know if we are or are not in right standing with God (righteous), but Paul very specifically says he is telling us to make sure we fully understand “the Lord’s body” and what each body member does affects all the other body members.
Proverbs 23:1-35 (NLT)—1 While dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you. 2 If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat; 3 do not desire all the delicacies, for he might be trying to trick you. 4 Do not wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. 5 In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle. 6 Do not eat with people who are stingy; do not desire their delicacies. 7 They only think about the costs. “Eat and drink,” they say, but they do not mean it. 8 You will throw up what little you have eaten, and your compliments will be wasted. 9 Do not waste your breath on fools, for they despise the wisest advice. 10 Do not cheat your neighbor by moving the boundary markers; do not take the land of defenseless orphans. 11 For their Redeemer is strong; He will bring their charges against you. 12 Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge. 13 Discipline your children. They will not die if you spank them. 14 Physical discipline may save them from death. 15 My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice! 16 Everything in me will celebrate when you speak what is right. 17 Do not envy sinners, but always fear (reverence) the LORD. 18 You will be rewarded for this; your hope will not be disappointed. 19 My child, listen and be wise: Keep your heart on the right course. 20 Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons, 21 for they are on their way to poverty, and too much sleep clothes them in rags. 22 Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. 23 Get the truth and never sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment. 24 The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise. 25 So give your father and mother joy! May she who gave you birth be happy. 26 O my son, give me your heart. May your eyes take delight in following my ways. 27 A prostitute is a dangerous trap; a promiscuous woman is as dangerous as falling into a narrow well. 28 She hides and waits like a robber, eager to make more men unfaithful. 29 Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. 31 Do not gaze at the wine, seeing how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smoothly it goes down. 32 For in the end it bites like a poisonous snake; it stings like a viper. 33 You will hallucinate and say crazy things. 34 You will stagger like a sailor tossed at sea, clinging to a swaying mast. 35 And you will say, “They hit me, but I did not feel it. I did not even know it when they beat me. When will I wake up so I can look for another drink?”
God says in Exodus 34:6-7 and Numbers 14:17-18, He forgives sins, but a person’s sins go down to the third and fourth generation; therefore, the sins of one person affect their children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and even their great, great, grandchildren, and this is the same way the sins of one member of Christ’s body, the church, affects all the other members; so, we must understand “the Lord’s body”, and do what is right, so the entire body (church) rejoices.
We stop sinning when we ask God to remove from us the desire to sin and replace it with the desire to live a forgiven, holy, and pure life that always pleases Him. Keep your mind on the Lord (Isaiah 26:3), and a series of problems will cause us to keep talking to the Lord about them.
Jim Nabors
