What is the meaning of Proverbs 23:6? Do not eat the bread of a stingy man Proverbs 23:6 opens with, “Do not eat the bread of a stingy man”. Solomon warns against sharing a table with someone whose tightfisted heart shapes every action. • Bread pictures both daily provision and an invitation to fellowship. When the provider is “stingy” (literally, selfish-eyed), the meal carries invisible strings. Proverbs 23:7 clarifies: “for as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” What he serves outwardly contradicts the inward calculation. • Proverbs 28:22 echoes the motive: “A stingy man hastens after wealth and does not know poverty will overtake him.” His generosity is a façade masking self-interest. • Proverbs 15:27 adds, “He who is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household.” If greed harms his own family, it will not bless visiting friends. • Jesus cautions about accepting cost-laden invitations in Luke 14:12-14; better to give without expectation than to receive from one nursing an angle. • Paul’s counsel in 1 Corinthians 10:27-29 reminds believers to weigh the unseen implications of any meal. Food itself may be harmless, yet the setting can entangle conscience. and do not crave his delicacies The second command, “and do not crave his delicacies,” shifts from the act of eating to the appetite of the heart. • Craving is internal; it betrays discontent. James 1:14 warns that “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” The stingy host’s spread looks appealing, but the cost is spiritual compromise. • Proverbs 23:3 previously cautioned, “Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.” What is pleasant to the palate can dull discernment. • Psalm 141:4 is a fitting prayer: “Let not my heart be drawn to any evil thing, to practice wicked deeds with men who do iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies.” • Philippians 4:11-12 teaches contentment whether well-fed or hungry; craving luxury reveals a restless spirit. • Proverbs 25:16 counsels moderation even with good things—“If you find honey, eat just what you need.” How much more should we restrain desire for fare offered with hidden motives. • 1 Timothy 6:6-8 underscores that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” Craving the stingy man’s treats forfeits that gain for momentary taste. summary Proverbs 23:6 cautions against both accepting the hospitality of a selfish host and longing for what he sets before you. Such food carries unseen obligations, and the craving itself exposes a heart susceptible to manipulation. Scripture invites believers to value sincere fellowship (Acts 2:46), cultivate generosity (Proverbs 22:9), and practice contentment in Christ (Hebrews 13:5). True nourishment springs from hands and hearts that give freely, reflecting the character of the Lord who “richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17). |
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