Daily Devotional
Betty Miller shares her daily
devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in the Bible.
The Wisdom
of God
Verses for the Day:
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.
Proverbs 23:1-3 (AMP):
1 When you sit down to eat
with a ruler, consider who and what are before you;
2 For you will put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to desire.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties, for it is deceitful food (offered with
questionable motives).
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses in Proverbs
give us some advice about socializing and eating with those in prosperous
positions. The first portion of advice we are given in verse 1 is that
we should consider whose table we are seated at, and the reason that we have
been invited. If we are simply a guest of honor for a celebration or banquet, it
is wise to be a person of dignity and celebrate in such a way, as not to bring
reproach on the Lord. Getting drunk and/or indulging in gluttony is not becoming
for a Christian. You may have been invited for other reasons, such as a job
opportunity, and the ruler in this household or company may be scrutinizing your
character with the thought of hiring you. If you pass the test, as someone of
which he approves, you could enjoy a promotion. These are just
possible scenarios of why you might be dining at a wealthy person's table.
By diligent consideration of the situation, we may find favor. On the other
hand, if our behavior is rude, we may lose face.
Verse 2
goes on to instruct us through using an idiom, "you will put a knife to your
throat," that expresses this meaning in our modern vernacular: "you can
kill an opportunity." We can "kill an opportunity" if we are a person who
cannot control his appetites or desires. People who are gluttons and
excessive drinkers lose respect in the eyes of others. It is the drunkenness and
intoxication that comes about when a man drinks too much that causes him to sin.
The Bible teaches discipline and moderation; eating too much food is a sin and
is called the sin of gluttony.
We are warned in
the Bible what too much wine and strong drink can do to a man. Men can end up
raging and brawling and doing things in a drunken stupor that are very unwise
and that they will also regret. How many times have we heard the expression when
someone talks unwisely after drinking too much -- "That was the alcohol
talking." Strong alcoholic drinks can cause men to become out of their heads and
violent. Drunkenness can cause men to lose their senses and mock others. People
will also mock them for their out of control inebriation and it can "kill their
opportunities" as they will "put a knife to their own throat."
Verse 3
tells us that the delicacies at the rich man's table are deceitful food. Not
only are they usually very unhealthy for us, they also can be offered with
"strings attached." Sometimes banquets are given with wrong motives in
order to win people over to the wrong side of certain issues, that are dear to
the heart of the one throwing the party. As Christians we may find ourselves in
these kind of circumstances and we must not yield to manipulation, just because
someone has furnished us a nice meal. In our day, certain marketers use the
"free meal" invitation to get people to listen to their presentations so that
they might get them to invest in or buy certain things. We are told to be
cautious in this sort of environment.
We also should
consider not eating the overly rich and unhealthy food at banquets of the rich.
Daniel was an example of how choosing not to eat at the king's table; he and his
colleagues were healthier than those who did. He chose to eat "pulse," which was
foods like seeds, beans, lentils and peas. I believe that this word could also have been
referring to vegetables in general.
Daniel 1:8-17:
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the
portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he
requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the
eunuchs.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who
hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse
liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger
my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to
eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of
the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal
with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in
flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they
should drink; and gave them pulse.
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning
and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
It would be wise
for us to ask the Lord about our diets too, since we live in an affluent society
that has the "king's food" available to the average person. Doctors are now
attributing many of our modern day ailments to the Western diet of too many
fats, sweets, and junk food. Instead of eating our foods in their natural forms,
as God created them, they are highly processed with a multitude of unhealthy
additives. We are a nation addicted to sweet, salty, greasy and rich foods.
These would qualify as deceitful foods.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I am thankful for the variety of the many foods You created for us to enjoy.
I do appreciate all the wonderful things You made for us to eat and enjoy.
Lord, give us wisdom in the area of eating. Forgive us for partaking in
any form of gluttony. Lord, help us to eat in moderation and deliver us from any
lust and addiction to food. Help all of Your people who are struggling with
being overweight to overcome in this area. Correct our appetites so that
we do not desire those things that are bad for us, and help us not to over-indulge in food and drink. Give us strength to resist the temptation to continue
eating more than we need. May You be "Lord of the Fork" in my life. I ask
in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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