Proverbs 23:1-35

Moderation is the result of self-control while exaggeration stems from the lack thereof.  Too much of a good thing can be a very bad thing so it is important that we learn to exercise self-control and live in moderation.  God has created us and all that is in the earth.  There are abundant pleasures that constantly surround us.  These pleasures were created by God for us to enjoy in moderation and in accordance with His Word.  When we begin to abuse those pleasures through exaggeration they become sources of pain and not pleasure.  There is a great deal to gain through the exercise of moderation through self-control.

SELF-CONTROL IN OUR DIET: Eating is one of the greatest pleasures that we enjoy.  There is such a wide variety of food available to us and many more that we have only heard about.  When we are in the house of a wealthy person, the foods that are offered to us may tantalize us and tempt us to exaggerate and stuff ourselves full of these delicate foods.  This is a huge mistake.  Our lack of self-control will ruin any chance we have of promotion in life and it will more than likely make us sick.  We must not allow wealth and comfort to become gods in our lives and begin to live in function of them.  If we know a person to be stingy, we must not eat his food even when it is offered to us.  It will only bring resentment from that person and in the end will make us vomit.

SELF-CONTROL IN OUR DISCIPLINE: We must be disciplined in the use of our words and decide very carefully whom it is that we can trust to give instruction and advice.  Foolish people will ignore it or twist it to use against us.  There are times when it seems like we can get rich quickly by taking advantage of others; this is a time for exercising extreme discipline because in the end we will suffer greatly for this.  We must seek to attain wisdom and knowledge and then be faithful to bass it on to those who have been disciplined.  The discipline of a child is the greatest gift we can give him for it will save both his body and soul.  Our hearts should be delighted by wisdom and disgusted by sin.  Curiosity and lust for sin will destroy all who cultivate them.  Our ears must be attentive to the instruction of our parents and value wisdom over every other thing.  Our eyes must be disciplined so that we do not desire the sexually immoral and find ourselves in the grip of death.


SELF-CONTROL IN OUR DRINK: Drinking is another pleasure on this earth that has brought countless men to ruin.  It is not that all drinking is sinful, but it has a tendency to erode our discipline so that moderation becomes impossible.  Drunkenness is a source of woe, sorrow, strife, complaining and wounds.  This is an area of extreme danger so it is to be avoided or used with great moderation.  Lingering in a place where alcohol is flowing or just looking at it will bring a temptation that can destroy.  The consequences are like that of the poison of a snake and it will make the person lose all discipline to the point of ruining ones reputation.  The problem is that the drink makes the drunkard oblivious to all of these consequences so he just wants more and more and repeats the same mistakes over and over again.

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