Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant, than to be self-important but lack food. Sermons
I. THAT SELF-RESPECT, HOWEVER INDIGENT, is better than "being ministered unto" at the cost of reputation. It is better to lack bread, or even life itself, really honoring ourself, than it is to receive any amount of service from others, if we have forfeited the regard of the good, and are deservedly "despised." But taking the words as they are, and reaching the sense intended by the writer, we gather - II. THAT DOMESTIC COMFORT AND SUFFICIENCY ARE MUCH TO BE PREFERRED TO THE GRATIFICATION OF PERSONAL VANITY. One man, in order that he may have consideration and deference from his neighbours, expends his resources on those outward appearances which will command that gratification; to do this he has to deny himself the attendance which he would like to have, and even the nourishment he needs. Another man disregards altogether the slights he may suffer from his meddlesome and intrusive neighbours, in order to supply his home with the food and the comforts which will benefit his family. It is the latter who is the wise man. For: 1. The gratification of vanity is a very paltry satisfaction; there is nothing honourable, but rather ignoble about it; it lowers rather than raises a man in the sight of wisdom. 2. The gratification thus gained is likely to prove very ephemeral, and to diminish constantly in its value; moreover, it is personal and, in that sense, selfish. 3. Domestic comfort is a daily advantage, lasting the whole year round, the whole life long. 4. Domestic comfort not only benefits the head of the household, but all the members of it, and he who makes a happy home is contributing to the good of his country and his kind. Using now the words of the text as suggestive of truths which they do not actually hold, we learn - III. THAT THERE IS A VALUABLE SERVICE WHICH ALL MAY SECURE. "He that hath a servant." Men are divisible into those that are servants and those that have them. Some are the slaves of their evil habits; these are to be profoundly pitied, however many menservants or maidservants they may have at their call. But we may and should belong to those who hold their habits, whether of the mind or of the life, under their control and at their command. If that be so with us, then, though we should have no dependents at all in our employ, or though we ourselves should be dependents, living in honourable and useful service, we shall have the most valuable servants always at hand to minister to us, building up our character, strengthening our mind, enlarging our life. IV. THAT WE SHOULD SECURE NOURISHMENT AT ALL COSTS WHATEVER. We must never he "the man that lacketh bread." To attain to any honour, to receive any adulation, to indulge any tancy, and to "lack bread," is a great mistake. For nourishment is strength and fulness of life; it is so in (1) the physical, (2) the intellectual, (3) the moral and spiritual realm. With the regularity and earnestness with which we ask for "daily bread," we should labour and strive to secure it, for our whole nature. - C.
He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread. Homilist. Vanity, or love of display, is one of the most contemptible and pernicious passions that can take possession of the human mind. Its roots are self-ignorance, its fruits are affectation and falsehood. The text refers to this in families, and when it takes possession of households it often destroys domestic comforts.I. THERE ARE DOMESTIC COMFORTS WITHOUT DISPLAY. In many an unpretending cottage there is more real domestic enjoyment than can be found in the most imposing mansions. II. THERE IS DOMESTIC DISPLAY WITHOUT COMFORTS. Many sacrifice comforts for appearances. They all but starve their domestics to feed their vanity. They must be grand though they lack bread. This love of appearance, this desire for show, is making sad havoc with the homes of old England. III. THE CONDITION OF THE FORMER IS PREFERABLE TO THAT OF THE LATTER. It is better to have comforts without show than show without comforts. 1. It is more rational. 2. It is more moral. 3. It is more satisfying. (Homilist.) ( T. Guthrie, D. D.) People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Better, Bread, Despised, Destitute, Esteemed, Honoreth, Honors, Honoureth, Humble, Lacketh, Lacks, Lightly, Low, Nobody, Opinion, Playeth, Plays, Position, Pretend, Rank, Self-honoured, Servant, Somebody, Standing, Works, YetOutline 1. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledgeDictionary of Bible Themes Proverbs 12:9 5920 pretence Library The Many-Sided Contrast of Wisdom and Folly'Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish. 2. A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn. 3. A man shall not be established by wickedness; but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. 4. A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. 5. The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. 6. The words of the wicked are to lie … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture April the Twenty-Second Speech as a Symptom of Health To Pastors and Teachers Of Having Confidence in God when Evil Words are Cast at Us The Ninth Commandment The Authority and Utility of the Scriptures "But Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God, and his Righteousness, and all These Things Shall be Added unto You. " Proverbs Links Proverbs 12:9 NIVProverbs 12:9 NLT Proverbs 12:9 ESV Proverbs 12:9 NASB Proverbs 12:9 KJV Proverbs 12:9 Bible Apps Proverbs 12:9 Parallel Proverbs 12:9 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 12:9 Chinese Bible Proverbs 12:9 French Bible Proverbs 12:9 German Bible Proverbs 12:9 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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