What is the meaning of Proverbs 25:17? Seldom set foot • The proverb opens with a call to restraint: “Seldom set foot…”—not “never,” but “rarely.” Scripture consistently commends measured behavior. Proverbs 25:16 warns, “If you find honey, eat just what you need, lest you have too much and vomit it.” The same moderation applies to social visits. • Paul urges a quiet, self-controlled life: “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business” (1 Thessalonians 4:11). Excessive presence, even with good intentions, can cross the line from fellowship to intrusion. in your neighbor’s house • “Neighbor” in Proverbs ranges from next-door friend to any member of the community (Proverbs 3:29). Relationship is assumed, yet boundaries still matter. • Hospitality is biblical (1 Peter 4:9), but godly courtesy respects the host’s time, privacy, and resources. Romans 13:10 reminds us, “Love does no wrong to its neighbor”; uninvited or constant stopping-by can become unloving. lest he grow weary • Unchecked familiarity breeds fatigue. Even friends have finite capacity. Jesus withdrew from crowds for rest (Mark 6:31). Our neighbors need margin, too. • The friend at midnight eventually says, “Do not bother me; the door is already shut” (Luke 11:7). Weariness naturally follows overextended hospitality. and hate you • Irritation, left unattended, ripens into resentment: “Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife” (Proverbs 25:24). The dynamic works both ways; constant visiting can turn a pleasant relationship sour. • Proverbs 26:17 pictures a meddler grabbing a dog’s ears—dangerous and avoidable. Likewise, uninvited presence risks emotional backlash that damages fellowship meant for mutual blessing. summary Proverbs 25:17 teaches the wisdom of considerate spacing in relationships. Balanced fellowship honors others’ time, preserves goodwill, and reflects the love that “is not rude, is not self-seeking” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Thoughtful restraint keeps friendships fresh and free from resentment, allowing neighborly love to flourish. |
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