Proverbs 6 - More on Adultery & What the Lord Hates

Reading Proverbs 6 today; more on adultery. This just shows how serious adultery is considered if it is mentioned yet again. Also the first part of Proverbs 6 speaks about indebtedness.

"My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor or entered into an agreement with a stranger, you have been trapped by the words of your lips - ensnared by the words of your mouth. Do this, then, my son, and free yourself, for you have put yourself in your neighbor's power: go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor." Proverbs 6: 1-3

While these verses are mainly speaking of cosigning for things; I interpret that to cover indebtedness we cannot cover. This happens often with credit cards putting us all into deep debt. The Bible doesn't speak specifically about credit cards because they are a modern invention to increase our debt; only coming into use around the 1920's in their earliest forms.

As a parent and a wife, I know how much hardship can come from too much debt. It can begin to restrict you from taking care of your family. At one time, our family was guilty of spending more than we made. We often got trapped in the whole payday loan, or cash advance scenario; where we were borrowing against money we hadn't made yet. Then you pay off the loan and don't have enough to live on so you do it again.

Through time and diligence we have eliminated our credit card usage and have started to spend no more than we make. We have much greater peace of mind now. I have always felt like God would not bless us with more of anything if we didn't prove that we could handle what we already had. If we couldn't spend what we had wisely, why would we be blessed with greater income?

Proverbs 6 also says to work hard. It refers us to be like the ant. Have you ever watched ants work? They are unstoppable. When they have a goal, they just keep on going and don't stop. You can throw an obstacle in their way and they will go over or around, but they are still getting the job done. We are not supposed to be lazy, but hard-working and diligent like the ant.

There is much more said here on adultery; I pretty much said it all yesterday. You commit adultery; you destroy yourself. Now on to those things that the Lord hates. It says these things are detestable to him.

These things are: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.

As I read that, I am trying to keep my mind from wandering to who I know that has done this or done that. As part of my scripture study, I am working on turning away from shining a light onto others' wrongs. Those are theirs to deal with. I am focusing on taking personal responsibility for what I have been doing.

Resources
Day 32 - A Warning Against Adultery

Wikipedia - Credit Card

English Standard Version Bible - Proverbs 6