What is the meaning of Proverbs 23:20? Do not join those - Scripture opens with a clear command: “Do not join those….” The warning is about the company we keep, recognizing how companions shape our values and habits. - Psalm 1:1 reminds us, “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,” while 1 Corinthians 15:33 cautions, “Bad company corrupts good character.” - Proverbs 1:10 echoes the same wisdom: “My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.” - The call is not merely to avoid certain behaviors but to step away from influences that normalize sin and dull spiritual alertness (Ephesians 5:7). - Practical application: • Choose friendships that encourage righteousness. • Set up boundaries—what gatherings, media, or activities subtly pull you off course? • Remember that saying “no” to harmful influence is saying “yes” to God’s best. who drink too much wine - The next phrase narrows the warning to excessive alcohol. Scripture does not condemn wine outright but firmly opposes drunkenness. - Proverbs 20:1 explains why: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.” - Isaiah 5:11 laments those who “rise early… to run after strong drink,” portraying a life ruled by appetite, not the Spirit. - Ephesians 5:18 contrasts two fillings: “Do not get drunk on wine… Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” - The pattern is consistent: self-control is a fruit of the Spirit; loss of control invites spiritual and moral danger (1 Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3). - Practical application: • If alcohol is present, decide limits in advance. • Replace a culture of intoxication with gatherings centered on fellowship, worship, and service. • Encourage accountability; confess struggles early rather than hiding them. or gorge themselves on meat - Gluttony is the twin vice to drunkenness. Proverbs 23:21 finishes the thought: “for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.” - Philippians 3:19 warns against letting “their god [be] their belly,” showing that unrestrained appetite can become idolatry. - Proverbs 25:16 gives a vivid picture: if you find honey, eat just enough—excess leads to sickness. - Luke 21:34 links overindulgence with spiritual dullness, urging believers to stay vigilant. - Practical application: • Practice mindful eating—stop when satisfied, not stuffed. • Fast periodically to re-train bodily desires to submit to the Spirit. • Remember stewardship: health, resources, and witness all suffer when appetite rules. summary Proverbs 23:20 issues a loving safeguard: steer clear of people and patterns that celebrate excess—whether in drink or in food. Companionship matters; indulgence dulls discernment; self-control protects joy and testimony. Walking this verse out means choosing friends, habits, and boundaries that keep Christ, not cravings, at the center of daily life. |
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