Eat honey, my child, for it is good. Honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future hope for you, And your hope will not be cut off. ~Proverbs 24:13-14
It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor. ~Proverbs 25:27
He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. ~Proverbs 27:7
Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all who live in this world, both low and high, rich and poor alike: my mouth will speak words of wisdom; the utterance from my heart will give understanding. I will turn my ear to a proverb. With the harp I will expound my riddle: whom should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies. His splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived, he counted himself blessed—and men praise you when you prosper—he will join the generation of his Fathers, who will never see the light of life. A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish. ~Psalm 49:1-6-&-16-20
Honey, riches, honor, wisdom; they could be seen as synonymous in Solomon’s teachings for today. By using man’s experience with honey, the common sweetener of the day, he is able to teach truths about less obvious intangibles, to help us put all of our lives into balance and perspective. “Eat honey, my child, for it is good. Honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future hope for you. And your hope will not be cut off.”
Have you ever considered the similarities of honey and wisdom? Both are actually good for you. Both need to be digested. You will not benefit from either just by having them in the room. They both must be handled and taken internally. Both can be hard to come by. Think of facing all those bees just to get a taste, yet it is the taste that makes battling the bees worthwhile. Wisdom can also be hard to come by. To gain it, discipline is required and that can be a challenge in itself. Honey makes food more attractive. Wisdom makes life more worthwhile. “If you find it, (honey and wisdom), there is a future hope for you. And your hope will not be cut off.”
“It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to seek one’s own honor.” Honey also has similarities with honor. Too much of either can be unhealthy. Even though honey is certainly healthier than sugar, too much of it can still cause obesity and other health problems. So, it is with honor.
“He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.” While riches are not specifically mentioned here, from other proverbs of Solomon, I think that it is also safe to draw a parallel between honey and wealth. To a person who is full, whether it be from food, honey, or wealth, there is certainly a more casual take it or leave it attitude toward many plain things. But the one who is starving will take whatever he or she can get. What is it we say when the hostess offers seconds on dessert? Often the response is, “I couldn’t eat another bite!” Even the most tempting confection can be turned down when we are satiated.
“A man who has riches without understanding is like the beasts that perish.” One who is full can be insensitive to the plight of the starving. It may even be a sensation that the one who is full has never, truly experienced. I know that I have been hungry. God designed us that way so that we will continually sustain our energy. However, I have never experienced starvation, when I would eat anything to end that gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach.
What adds to the sense of being hungry is the lack of control over being able to stop it. We can all go to our cupboard or fridge and grab a snack. Or, we know that lunch is coming soon and we will have a meal then. I don’t know what it is like to live with the knowledge that there is no next meal, and no way of getting one. It becomes all consuming. That makes sense since food is necessary for survival. While we turn down that second dessert, or “loathe honey,” we have no idea how good a stale crust of bread must taste to someone who has no other option.
“I will turn my ear to a proverb. With the harp I will expound my riddle: whom should I fear when evil days come, when wicked deceivers surround me—those who trust in their wealth and boast of their great riches? Do not be overawed when a man grows rich, when the splendor of his house increases; for he will take nothing with him when he dies. His splendor will not descend with him. Though while he lived he counted himself blessed—and men praise you when you prosper—he will join the generation of his Fathers, who will never see the light of life.”
Too much honey can make one sick. Too much honor, too much praise, too much wealth can be insulating from the truth. The counter for us is to remember who we are in Christ so that we will stay humble and grateful. Remember His commands to care for the poor and the widow so that we will take our eyes off ourselves. We can be grateful for what we have, but always remember from where and from whom it came and give Him all the honor and praise instead. He is the one who can handle it and deserves it forever!
Prayer: Father, You are so good! Your words are sweeter than honey on my lips! Keep me humble. Keep me hungry for more of you! Keep me sensitive to the people around me as really most important to love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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