How can Proverbs 23:6 guide us in choosing our companions wisely? The Warning in the Verse Proverbs 23:6: “Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;” • “Eat” and “crave” picture more than a meal; they picture fellowship. • The “stingy man” (literally, “one with an evil eye”) looks generous on the surface but harbors selfish motives. • God’s command is simple: refuse intimate association with someone whose heart is ruled by greed. Why Character Counts in Companions • Companionship shapes character (1 Corinthians 15:33). • Sharing a table—time, confidences, values—lets another person’s heart influence yours. • A stingy spirit opposes the generous heart of God (James 1:17; Acts 20:35). • Aligning with such a person courts spiritual compromise and disillusionment (Proverbs 23:7–8). Spotting the Stingy Spirit Today Look for attitudes, not just actions: – Calculating generosity (“What will I get back?”). – Reluctance to rejoice in others’ blessings. – Chronic complaint about giving time, money, or praise. – Flattery or gifts used as leverage. If these patterns dominate, Scripture says that relationship should remain guarded. Practical Steps to Apply 1. Pause before bonding. Measure the heart behind the hospitality. 2. Guard your appetites. Craving another’s “delicacies” can dull discernment (Proverbs 23:1–3). 3. Choose friends who mirror God’s openhanded nature (Proverbs 11:25; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8). 4. Model generosity yourself; your example may prick a stingy heart toward repentance (Matthew 5:16). 5. If already entangled, set loving boundaries—meet in neutral places, limit personal disclosures, and pray for their transformation. Scripture Echoes That Reinforce the Lesson • Proverbs 13:20 – “He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.” • Psalm 1:1 – Blessing flows to the one who refuses the counsel and fellowship of the wicked. • 1 Corinthians 5:11 – Believers must distance themselves from professing Christians marked by greed. • 2 Timothy 2:22 – “Pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, together with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” The Blessing of Godly Companions • Mutual generosity reflects Christ and strengthens faith (Hebrews 10:24–25). • Shared meals become worshipful celebrations, not calculated transactions (Acts 2:46–47). • Wise companions spur you toward eternal priorities, guarding you from the snare of covetousness (Colossians 3:1–2). |
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