Day 288
Jeremiah 26:1-27:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18; Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 25:16
Sweeter Than Honey
“If you find honey, eat just enough – too much of it, and you will vomit.” – Proverbs 25:16 (NIV)
Of all the evocative Scriptures in today’s reading (Jeremiah’s brush with death, Paul’s valuable instructions to Christ’s followers, and one of the most beautiful scriptural phrases in the Bible), why does this one stand out? Is it the literal gut reaction we have to this pairing? Now that the Holy Spirit has grabbed our attention as either an attraction to the essence of honey or repulsion, or at least intrigue, to the thought of vomit, why in the midst of this metaphorical and poetic collection of proverbs does He wish to give us this “health tip”?
Greed is the actual root of all evildoing. Consider the need for God to specify all ten of the commandments. In every admonition, man attempts to put himself in the driver’s seat and load up the goods: other peoples’ stuff, their hard-earned reputations, their spouses, the authority owed our elders, the Sabbath for our own use, you know the list. We even want to call all the shots, to be the Boss. We want, not just enough, but we want it all… Large-and-in-charge… To be King of the Mountain. Getting nauseous yet?
Without greed and the desires to personally attain the highest powers and dominions in this world, we find the pathway back to the Garden and our rightful relationship with our Loving Father. Enjoy the blessings He has already placed in our lives, and find contentment and satisfaction in the “just enough amount” that only Jesus, the True King can allot. Sweeter even than honey!
Laurie Mealor