WISDOM'S JOURNEY: Who is high risk in your life? Proverbs 27:13
Who is high risk in your life?
TODAY'S PROVERB: Take a man’s garment, who puts up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge, as security for a seductive woman. Proverbs 27:13
Today's proverb is one of those "blink" verses. We tend to blink past them because, on the surface, they don't appear to have any relevance in our life.
However, if you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or anyone of influence in the life of a young person, please read on with eyes wide open.
First, a bit of an explanation for the scene in this verse. This is a business transaction between a man who's borrowing money for a tryst and someone he's trying to convince to help him. He doesn't have enough collateral for a loan himself, so he arranges for someone else to "co-sign." It's a risk to lend money to such a person.
King Solomon instructs the person to take the guy's garment--the collateral--up front because in all likelihood the guy will not honor his pledge to pay back the loan. Which is also why Solomon strongly advises against co-signing for anyone's loan. (Proverbs 6:1-5; 11:15; 22:26-27)
In Biblical times, an honest transaction/promise was sealed with the exchange of clothing.
So, what are our lessons from this proverb?
One lesson: Do not co-sign or do business with someone who is not trustworthy. The only way that would work is if we take the collateral up front?
What would that look like? It means if you co-signed for a car, you would have access and use of it until it is paid off. In today's world that's seldom practical or even possible. Which means, if we provide the security for someone else's loan, we had better be prepared to assume the full responsibility if/when they default.
Another lesson: Observe the character of those we do business with, or are in relationship with.
While risk-takers can be exciting to hang with, it's important to observe the fruit of their behavior.
Watch how they treat others. Do they cherish them or are they merely commodities used for their own purposes?
Do they meet their commitments and promises or do they talk their way out of them?
When it comes time for us to deal with a person like this, we need to be cautious. How they treat others will be how they treat us--no matter how convincing they might be.
It took my hubby and I many years to learn these lessons. Some painful and expensive years.
Saving ourselves these painful experiences are the benefits of the wisdom journey. Saving young people these experiences are even better. And that's a good thing.
May wisdom keep us from the painful lessons, my friends.
Proverbs 27:13, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
Today's proverb is one of those "blink" verses. We tend to blink past them because, on the surface, they don't appear to have any relevance in our life.
However, if you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or anyone of influence in the life of a young person, please read on with eyes wide open.
First, a bit of an explanation for the scene in this verse. This is a business transaction between a man who's borrowing money for a tryst and someone he's trying to convince to help him. He doesn't have enough collateral for a loan himself, so he arranges for someone else to "co-sign." It's a risk to lend money to such a person.
King Solomon instructs the person to take the guy's garment--the collateral--up front because in all likelihood the guy will not honor his pledge to pay back the loan. Which is also why Solomon strongly advises against co-signing for anyone's loan. (Proverbs 6:1-5; 11:15; 22:26-27)
In Biblical times, an honest transaction/promise was sealed with the exchange of clothing.
So, what are our lessons from this proverb?
One lesson: Do not co-sign or do business with someone who is not trustworthy. The only way that would work is if we take the collateral up front?
What would that look like? It means if you co-signed for a car, you would have access and use of it until it is paid off. In today's world that's seldom practical or even possible. Which means, if we provide the security for someone else's loan, we had better be prepared to assume the full responsibility if/when they default.
Another lesson: Observe the character of those we do business with, or are in relationship with.
While risk-takers can be exciting to hang with, it's important to observe the fruit of their behavior.
Watch how they treat others. Do they cherish them or are they merely commodities used for their own purposes?
Do they meet their commitments and promises or do they talk their way out of them?
When it comes time for us to deal with a person like this, we need to be cautious. How they treat others will be how they treat us--no matter how convincing they might be.
It took my hubby and I many years to learn these lessons. Some painful and expensive years.
Saving ourselves these painful experiences are the benefits of the wisdom journey. Saving young people these experiences are even better. And that's a good thing.
May wisdom keep us from the painful lessons, my friends.
Proverbs 27:13, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version - TLV, #tlvbible, #tlvproverbs
[WATCH Tree of Life Bible Society's CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with this proverb. Check us out at Tree of Life Bible Society, Monday through Friday, LIVE at 8:30am EST. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
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