The tenth Proverb references physical hunger, food, harvest, and wealth in general truths. For example, in verse 4, Solomon mentions that a diligent hand makes one rich. This is a general truth in that, generally speaking, if someone works hard, they will reap financial reward; but we know there are many exceptions of people who work hard, but go unrecognized, or get laid off due to a sour economy. Generally speaking though, wise counsel is to work hard to get ahead, not lie, cheat and steal to get to the top--that strategy may work on a show like "Survivor," but in the real world, we must live with the consequences of our actions after reaching toward a goal. In real life, one needs support of peers and upper management to "move up." One may argue it's who you know, or other theories, but in the end, what is the advice you would give your son or daughter: "Get by with just what you have to and make sure you know the right folks," or "Work hard and do your best so you will get to know who you need to know and they will think well of you?" I choose the latter along with Solomon.
Now, having said that, I think it is quite interesting to pull these general truths regarding life in this world to absolute truths of living in the Spirit. The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger, but He will reject the craving of the wicked. In this we understand that the righteous will sometimes hunger for food because of famine, poverty, governmental oppression or other worldly factors; but in a heavenly view, Jesus is the Bread of Life. Those who partake of Him will never hunger spiritually. Likewise, he'll quench our thirst with living water. But the wicked hunger in their soul for peace and love, but by rejecting God, they reject the Prince of Peace and the source of love. How can a depraved world fill the craving for wholeness while rejecting Jesus who holds everything together?
Solomon also speaks of the mouth of the righteous as a fountain of life, but warns before that of the son who sleeps at harvest, which is shameful. It is shameful for a farm boy to sleep while the rest of the family is bringing in the harvest, but let's take a look at it from a spiritual perspective. Jesus said that the workers are few for the harvest. He made Peter and the disciples fishers of men. He is not interested in how much wheat we can produce; Jesus is interested in our work in the harvest of souls for the Kingdom of Heaven. Should we rest and relax in comfort of our blessings while a broken world is ripe for the harvest? As a farmer takes up the combine or in older times the sickle, we must wield the Gospel of Jesus. While the blade of the Gospel may cut, it brings into the fold added ingredients to the Bread of Life. Once cut to the heart, the harvest then gets the heart of the harvester through the miracle of the Holy Spirit. How shameful it would be for us to then sleep instead of going to take the harvest to others!
Consider yourself in verse 15 and Jesus in verse 16. Take to heart the call for the righteous lips to feed many in verse 21. Let your mouth bring forth what is acceptable and not perverted. Feed a hungry world.
Proverbs 10
The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
Ill-gotten gains do not profit,
But righteousness delivers from death.
The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger,
But He will reject the craving of the wicked.
Poor is he who works with a negligent hand,
But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
He who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
The memory of the righteous is blessed,
But the memory of the wicked will rot.
The wise of heart will receive commands,
But a babbling fool will be ruined.
He who walks in integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will be found out.
He who winks the eye causes trouble,
And a babbling fool will be ruined.
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions.
On the lips of the discerning, wisdom is found,
But a rod is for the back of him who lacks understanding.
Wise men store up knowledge,
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.
The rich man's wealth is his fortress,
The ruin of the poor is their poverty.
The wages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.
He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,
But he who ignores reproof goes astray.
He who conceals hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads slander is a fool.
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But he who restrains his lips is wise.
The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of understanding.
It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich,
And He adds no sorrow to it.
Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous will be granted.
When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him.
The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.
The hope of the righteous is gladness,
But the expectation of the wicked perishes.
The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright,
But ruin to the workers of iniquity.
The righteous will never be shaken,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.
the mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
the lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.
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