The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Proverbs 23:1-8, ”When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,
2 And put a knife to your throat if you are a man of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. for wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that
flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, ‘Eat and drink!’ But his heart is not with you.
8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments.”

If you ever doubted the validity of Solomon’s wisdom, you have only to read Psalms 23 and 24. By my count, there are 19 “Do nots” in those two chapters alone. There are but three “Do not” warnings in our verses above, yet they ring with the welcome of wisdom.

It has never been my privilege to dine with a true ruler, but I will admit that I have sat at the table with a few dignitaries in their native countries. I cannot say, however, that I have ever “desired” some of their native “delicacies.” Solomon’s warning deals with some who will offer delicious food in order to entice you to undertake for them favors that are unethical or outright immoral.

Often, too, such “delicacies” are truly delicious; yet they are “deceptive food” that is disguised as a promise of enormous wealth. Far too many have fallen into such traps and lived to regret their lack of wisdom. The guarantee of honest wealth is personal engagement in honest work. Those who are deceptive seek others who are of the same mind. They openly encourage their “victims” to enjoy the food set before them; yet, Solomon warns that they are thoroughly dishonest in their endeavors.

Our news today is replete with accounts of dishonest people. It often seems that the dishonest are the only ones of whom readers are concerned to read! Yet, the admonition of Solomon to us all is that we concern ourselves and follow only that which is good and honest. The LORD Himself is both good and honest. We can submit ourselves to His offer and partake daily of His eternal and trustworthy Word. It is like the LORD Himself; it will never deceive us or lead us astray. Have you read the Bible today?

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom