“Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.” Proverbs 27:13
Devotional Thought For The Day
This is somewhat of a repeat – the same principles regarding collateral are set forth in other proverbs. In fact, there are only very small differences between this proverb and 20:16; the same words are used. The main idea is to be doubly careful when granting a loan or credit to someone who is co-signing for a person whose circumstances are unknown or dubious, or if there is any hint of immorality. Doing business with such a person, or granting the credit is not forbidden; the advice is to be extra cautious and careful in such a circumstance, that the potential for default and loss is greater.
I have known people who absolutely will not do any business with anyone who has had any kind of past indiscretions. I have known people who will not even have a relationship with those whose past involved serious moral flaws. They believe that such treachery has a continued existence and will surely manifest itself again, and that it is almost certain that such people will inevitably turn on them. This is, I suppose, wise advice if your goal is to never be hurt and to never be vulnerable; but it also makes for a rather lonely existence. Likewise, it is allowing one’s heart to become hardened so that he turns away many people who are in need, some of whom may be genuinely repentant and on their way to better things. This kind of cold and rigid hypocrisy denudes one of love and of the capacity to serve the Lord Jesus by serving others. You remember this proverb: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his deed.” [Proverbs 19:17]
What would we do if the Lord were to treat us in this same fashion? But of course the Lord has not treated us in such fashion. Instead of holding us accountable for the huge debt of sin that we have incurred, He took our sin upon Himself and paid for it with His own blood, His suffering and death on the cross – we who are guilty of all sins. He doesn’t push us away and refuse to have anything to do with us because of our sin – whether past or present, but rather continues to forgive us and to encourage us to turn from sin and to do what is good and right. Part of what is good and right is to love as He loves us, to forgive, to extend mercy, to have compassion, and to continue trusting, hoping, and believing the best of others – particularly of those who proclaim their repentance and their commitment to what is good. After all, we are all on a continuum of sanctification that requires ongoing repentance and confession of our sin, and our sanctification is in fact fueled and produced by our repentance and our experience of God’s gracious forgiveness and mercy. So to shut out another because of their sin is to shut off God’s forgiveness, and this shuts off the very thing which fuels our own renewal. Obviously, this would be a greater personal loss than anything else a person could take from us.
Nonetheless, greater caution is required in relationships with people who are involved in sin – especially when it is unrepented and ongoing. So we must continue to grow in being “as wise as serpents,” but we must also remain “as harmless as doves.” [Matt. 10:16] Everything we do has some influence and impact on our own inner being and our relationship with God, so being wise includes taking great care that we not fall into hypocrisy, that we continue honestly in our life of repentance, faith, and sanctification, living in God’s love and living His love toward others.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, You know better than we the messy nature of human affairs in this fallen world of sin. You know how sin impacts business and relationships, how difficult it is to live wisely and prudently, and also to continue growing in love. Forbid that we become calloused and cold, hypocritical and unbelieving. Protect us as we seek to love others as You have loved us, and lift us up when we suffer for trusting others. Amen.