Proverbs 20:17-20 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 20:17-20, which read,

v.17 - Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

When we don't pay for bread, we steal it, it may seem like we are getting something for nothing but we are not.  We are getting something, it just comes a little later.  We are tasting that sweet soft bread for the moment but later our same mouths will be filled with gritty hard gravel that does damage and we just want to spit it out.  Solomon so loves the word pictures.

When we are deceptive or trying to cut corners or not being wise to follow God's honorable ways there can be some instant satisfaction.  Sin has got to have some excitement and pleasure otherwise we would not participate in it so much.  But following that pleasurable sin is the consequence that hurts us in the long run.  We are hindered by sin to use our mouths for something productive or nourishing because they are full of the effects of sin and we can't speak of God or take in anything of God.  Our mouths are full of Satan's gravel.

v.18 - Prepare plans by consultation, and make war by wise guidance.

Solomon brings up again the need for wise counsel.  We live in a sinful and hostile world to God.  If we are to follow after God in this type of world then we need a well thought out plan.  We need to prepare to follow after God.  We need to be at war with Satan and his schemes of sin.  We can not just "wing" this life if we are going to live a life that is glorifying to God.  

God gives us counsel and guidance through His word, the Bible. through other brothers and sisters in Christ that we have around us in the local church and also in the general church.  I am so thankful for His word.  It is right there and many of us have it in our pockets or purses now with the app on our phones.  I am so thankful for my local brothers and sisters in Christ that I can call upon and I probably should call upon more.  I am also so thankful for godly Christians I can access to guide me that I have never met personally but have learned from their teaching through books and the internet.  Again, the key is to seek out this consultation and guidance otherwise we might be eating stolen bread and speaking gravel.

v.19 - He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets, therefore do not associate with a gossip.

How do those who slander others get their information?  Usually it is by flattering others to obtain it.  So they put on a little show that is full of falsehood and deception with an agenda to use the information to cut down another.  When you put it that way, they really start to look ugly.  Someone who you thought by their actions and words thought the world of you actually was just gaining information to use against another and maybe against you.

When I have been in the presence of a gossip, I have thought if they can say this about another to me then they also have the capacity to say this about me to another.  Who seems to be my friend can very quickly become my enemy.  Solomon first gives us the description of this person so we can identify them and then gives the prescription to not bring this type of person too close or get sucked into their practices.  Gossips breed more gossips for that is their goal to spread the slanderous message.

v.20 - He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp will go out in time of darkness.

Honor your father and mother is one of the ten commandments.  This proverb is talking about someone who is doing just the opposite.  The commandment has a promise of it being well with you who honor mom and dad and this proverb has a promise of it not being well with you if you curse them.  This proverb is the flip side of the command.

What if you don't have such a great father or mother?  What if you father or mother are very against God and His ways?  What if they even harm you in some way?  How do you honor them and not curse them?  I think we don't get the option to curse them in the Scriptures because there are other Scriptures that help bring justice to those who dishonor God.  God will take care of the injustice with the justice He has put in place that many times needs to be accessed but it is hard because we are talking about family.  It doesn't look very loving to call them in but it is if we really do love and honor them to receive help beyond our own.  God does the cursing if needed while we do the honoring, as hard as it might be at times.  No one promised it would be easy.  Let us pray.

"Lord, we have some proverbs that call us to honesty, attention, integrity, and loyalty.  May we see that our actions matter to be holy.  May we see that our preparations need to include You.  May we see that our associations can affect our speech for the good or the bad.  May we see that our cursing is out of place with following the wisdom of You.  May we be guided by Your instruction today and every day by putting ourselves in a place to receive it.  Amen."

Pastor Adam