I love the way people spoke and wrote years ago when we weren’t so concerned about being politically correct or tempering our words so that no one is offended. A few years ago, I ran across the Bible commentary of Matthew Henry while looking up Greek and Hebrew words on the BlueLetterBible.org website. He holds nothing back but speaks plainly about the Word of God. His commentary will also stretch and improve your vocabulary, being that he lived from 1662-1714, and was a British minister in Wales and England.

Consider his introduction to Proverbs 6:

In this chapter we have,

• A caution against rash suretiship (v. 1-5).
• A rebuke to slothfulness (v. 6-11).
• The character and fate of a malicious mischievous man (v. 12-15).
• An account of seven things which God hates (v. 16-19).
• An exhortation to make the word of God familiar to us (v. 20-23).
• A repeated warning of the pernicious consequences of the sin of whoredom (v. 24-35).

We are here dissuaded from sin very much by arguments borrowed from our secular interests, for it is not only represented as damning in the other world, but as impoverishing in this.

“The pernicious consequences of the sin of whoredom.” We just don’t talk like that anymore, but honestly, we should!

What wisdom can we gain from this chapter on each of these topics? Let’s just look at three.

First, surety, or “suretiship” speaks of debt. The verses advise against becoming responsible for the money someone else owes (such as co-signing a loan) or getting yourself into the bondage of debt. Unmanageable debt will impoverish you and can lead to promising or doing things you would never do to escape the consequences of it.

This is such a practical admonition. Our world turns on debt, from personal loans for cars and houses to credit card debt for things we don’t need, all the way up to the national debt. If all loans were called in today, our society would collapse.

Debt, or surety, involves more than just money. We don’t have to look very deeply to see how favors promised between politicians can corrupt humanity. Proverbs says, Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids; deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler (6:4-5).

Second, slothfulness. Also known as laziness. I love Henry’s summary:

Solomon, in these verses, addresses himself to the sluggard who loves his ease, lives in idleness, minds no business, sticks to nothing, brings nothing to pass, and in a particular manner is careless in the business of religion. Slothfulness is as sure a way to poverty, though not so short a way, as rash suretiship.

I learned these particular verses as a child, and they always come to mind on those mornings when I’d love to just stay in bed rather than get up and on to the duties and responsibilities of my day: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man (6:10-11).

These verses convict me and remind me to redeem the time God gives me, to be useful and productive for His kingdom work. Entertainment and leisure activities which used to be only for the rich are so readily available for all. My parents’ generation (just a few decades ago) had to work so much harder for the basics of life – food, clothing, and shelter. I fear our modern appliances and convenience foods have made us love the easy life a bit too much. Are we teaching our children and grandchildren the value of a good work ethic?

Finally, the exhortation to make the Word of God familiar to us, found in verses 20-23:

My son, observe the commandment of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother; bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life.

I believe all of us could share examples of the times we rejected the godly advice of a parent or mentor and suffered the consequences. If your parents taught you that God’s Word is true, you were blessed indeed. We are admonished not to go the way the world says, which is to throw off all the “old” ways and set aside what our parents and grandparents tried to instill in us, in the name of freedom. Instead, when we have the treasures of God’s Word passed down to us, we are to bind them continually on our hearts and let them guide us, watch over us, and speak to us. They will shed light on our path, and discipline us to walk in God’s ways.

What wisdom will you glean from this chapter?