Prayer for the Day

Proverbs Day 192 (KJV):

Proverbs 20:16-17 (KJV):
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Proverbs 20:16-17 (NIV):
16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.
17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel.

Proverbs 20:16-17 (AMP):
16 (The judge tells the creditor) Take the garment of one who is security for a stranger, and hold him in pledge when he is security for foreigners.
17 Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
 
 

 
Thoughts for the Day

These Proverbs, in essence, tell us to avoid a man who has a bad character. We have a description of that character in these scriptures. In the Amplified version, verse 16 begins like this: "The judge tells the creditor." In other words, this is a declaration of how a man who is a fornicator and who is careless should be treated by the court. The judge says he is not to be trusted, so hold his garment for security until he settles with the court.

The book of Proverbs advises us not to take surety for a stranger. What is surety? It means that a person will give security for the payment or will pledge to pay another's debt if they fail to pay it. We are told that if we do this for a stranger (someone we do not know that well), we will end up hurting for it, as we can lose all that we have put up for them. Strangers, who have the audacity to ask someone they do not even know to be surety for them, usually do not possess the character to repay the debt in the end. It is better to avoid this kind of dealing, so that we will not be stuck with the penalty of paying someone else's debt.

There are many scams going around and most of them could be avoided if we heeded the principal of not trusting a stranger when they ask for money for an investment. Many times the person who is gullible and falls for these scams will end up not only losing their money, but they can also end up being arrested as part of the scam too, if they get deeply involved with the wrong kind of people.

Verse 17 also sends a warning to those who would be tempted to steal by using deceit and fraud. It is compared to bread that is stolen. At first, it tastes good, but after a while it will turn to gravel in their mouths. Anything that we do in a deceitful manner will come back to haunt us because it triggers the law of sowing and reaping.

Galatians 6:7-8:
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Proverbs is full of good advice and as we apply it to our lives, we will dwell in peace in this earth. We will not fall into the traps of the devil that will cause us trouble and pain, if we heed the advice in this book of wisdom.

 
Prayer for the Day

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You today and I do thank You for all of the wonderful advice You have recorded in the Bible. Help me to heed it and live by it, for I know that when I do, I will experience blessings in this life. Lord, help me not to get caught up in anything that is deceptive or that plays on the fleshly desires in my life. Give me discernment and wisdom in my monetary affairs. Help me to put You first in my finances by giving tithes and offerings. I know then You will protect me from the snares of the devil who comes to rob, steal and kill. Thank You, Lord for Your provision today and help me to be sensitive as to how I can help others and the work of the gospel. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.