In Proverbs 6, God provides a roadmap for living wisely through warnings that protect us from destructive choices. Pastor Léveillé’s sermon breaks down this chapter into four critical areas, each addressing a potential pitfall that can derail our lives. These warnings, given in the tone of a loving father, are not meant to restrict but to preserve our joy, purpose, and relationship with God. This article explores the timeless truths of Proverbs 6:1-35, urging us to heed God’s wisdom for an abundant life.
Don’t Get Tangled Financially (Proverbs 6:1-5)
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler (Proverbs 6:1-5, KJV). Solomon begins with a warning against financial entanglements, specifically cosigning for someone else’s debt. In ancient times, this meant pledging yourself as collateral, risking slavery if the debt went unpaid. Today, it applies to cosigning loans or contracts that bind your future to someone else’s faithfulness. The urgency in these verses is clear: act quickly to free yourself from such commitments, as they are a trap that can ensnare you. This is not a call to withhold generosity but to exercise wisdom, ensuring your resources remain available for God’s purposes. Proverbs teaches that love and wisdom coexist; saying no to unwise financial risks can be an act of stewardship and care for your family’s future.
Don’t Be Lazy with Your Life (Proverbs 6:6-11)
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man (Proverbs 6:6-11, KJV). Next, Solomon addresses laziness, using the ant as a model of diligence. Unlike the sluggard, who delays action and avoids effort, the ant works diligently without supervision, preparing for the future. Laziness, described as a preference for “a little sleep” or “a little slumber,” leads to poverty that creeps in gradually, like a traveler. This warning applies not only to physical work but also to spiritual disciplines like prayer and church involvement. Laziness is a heart issue, a refusal to embrace responsibility. Whether young or old, God calls us to build a work ethic for character, not just income, ensuring our lives bear fruit for His glory.
Don’t Make Peace with Sinful People (Proverbs 6:12-19)
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren (Proverbs 6:12-19, KJV). Solomon warns against aligning with those who embrace sin, describing a “naughty person” whose deceitful actions and words sow discord. This individual manipulates and causes trouble, embodying traits God hates: pride, lying, violence, scheming, and division. The warning is not just to avoid these behaviors but to steer clear of those who practice them. Proximity to sin makes us complicit; as Proverbs 13:20 states, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (KJV). Choosing friends who reflect godliness protects our hearts and keeps us on the path of holiness.
Don’t Wander Toward Sexual Sin (Proverbs 6:20-35)
My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck… For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids… Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent… But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul (Proverbs 6:20-35, KJV). Finally, Solomon pleads with his son to avoid sexual sin, emphasizing the protective power of God’s commandments. Lust and adultery begin with a look or thought, leading to destruction as surely as fire burns. Unlike theft, which may be understood if driven by hunger, adultery is deeply personal, causing irreparable harm. The imagery of fire and hot coals underscores the inevitability of consequences. To stay pure, we must flee temptation, guard our thoughts, and invest in our marriages. Parents are urged to guide their children in purity, ensuring the world does not shape their understanding of sexuality. God’s wisdom is a guardrail, not a restriction, preserving us for a life of peace.
Conclusion
Proverbs 6 is a loving father’s plea, reflecting God’s desire to protect us from financial ruin, laziness, sinful company, and sexual sin. These warnings are not meant to burden us but to guide us toward the abundant life Jesus promised. As Pastor Léveillé reminds us, God’s wisdom may not always feel easy, but it always leads to life. Let us examine our choices, repent where needed, and commit to walking in God’s truth, trusting that His warnings are expressions of His love for our souls.
