In Proverbs 23:6-8, Solomon warns against dining with selfish individuals. Especially, concern is raise regarding desiring what the selfish man has. Why? Because the selfish man will not, in his heart, join with you.
What do we do with this?
1. Share openly. This is the stretch of the passage, but let’s hit it first. Do not be the selfish man. (Or woman) When you give, when you are in fellowship with others, do not spend your time counting the cost and holding against your guests. Build fellowship, and don’t invite folks to a steak dinner with a hamburger heart. Or a hamburger budget: if your heart is full but your wallet is not, then openly provide what you can, rather than trying to impress.
2. Be cautious in receiving. If you are dining with those whose hearts are not with you, then do not be swept up in the delicacies. Be aware of what is really going on. If Boss Hogg invites you to a barbecue, he’s not being nice. He wants information on the Duke boys…or your keys to the car.
3. Focus on the fellowship. While we do not isolate from those whose hearts are far from us, consider this question: How many meals do you eat in a day? How many of those include time for relationship building?
Now, how many of those do you want to waste on relationships that will never grow?
Consider that question when you think about how your time is spent. Instead of chasing that next power lunch, chase the more valuable: good relationships.
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