Proverbs 6: A Roadmap to Personal Responsibility and Moral Living

Proverbs 6 is divided into three main sections: 1. warning against co-signing a loan for someone else, warning against laziness and immorality, and wisdom’s benefits and warnings. Let’s discuss each specific topic in detail.

Warning against co-signing a loan for someone (Proverbs 6:1-5)

This section begins with a warning to avoid becoming responsible for someone else’s debt by co-signing a loan. The writer here advises the reader to try to get out of such a situation as quickly as possible, even it means taking drastic measures by giving no eyes sleep and running away like a gazelle from a hunter.

Co-signing a loan can be unwise because it makes you responsible for someone else’s debt, and if they are unable to pay back the loan, you may be required to pay it back instead, which can lead to financial difficulties and strain on relationships.

Let’s say you have a friend who wants to buy a car, but he doesn’t have the credit score to qualify for a loan. He asks you to co-sign for him and promises to make the car payments. Because you want to help your friend out, you agree and sign the paperwork without fully realizing the terms of the loan.

A few months later, your friend loses his job. He is now unable to make his monthly car payments. Since you co-signed, the loan officers are now calling you, demanding to be paid. Not only do you have to pay back the loan amount, but there are also thousands of dollars in interest and fees attached to the bill as well.

If you can’t afford to pay back the loan, you may face legal action and damage to your credit score, which could affect your ability to get loans or credit in the future. And even if you are able to pay the loan off, your relationship may be strained with your friend. This is why it’s often unwise to put yourself in this situation.

There are many Scripture verses that discuss this topic:

• Psalm 37:21: “The wicked borrows but does not pay back, but the righteous is generous and gives.”
• Psalm 112:5: “It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.”
• Ecclesiastes 5:5: “It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay.”
• Romans 13:8: “Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.”
• 2 Corinthians 6:14: “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

While these verses don’t specifically mention guaranteeing loans or co-signing for a friend, they teach on the importance of being generous without getting yourself in a financial entanglement that could lead to your downfall. Therefore, it’s crucial to hold fast to the wisdom taught in Scripture in order to overcome any hardships that come your way.

Warnings against laziness and immorality (Proverbs 6:6-19)

In the second section, the writer uses vivid imagery such as the diligence of an ant to teach on the importance of hard work and the danger of laziness. Ants are known for their hard work because they are social insects that live in highly organized and efficient colonies. One reason they are so hard working is that their survival depends on it because ants live in environments where food and resources are scarce–and they must work tirelessly to gather enough food and protect their colony from predators.

The same attitude should be instilled in us. The harder we work, the more opportunities become available to us. For example, when your hard work is evident, people such as your boss will notice it and potentially give you a salary increase or job promotion to reward you for the impact you create in the workplace.

Furthermore, this section tells the readers what the Lord despises: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Let’s discuss a few of these sins.

A haughty eye is someone who is arrogant and full of pride. James 4:6 tells us, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” When you look down on others or think you are more important, Scripture says that God will oppose you. These are strong words. Let’s remain humble.

God hates a lying tongue. Because God is perfect in his moral character, he can’t lie. He is always truthful. Consequently, the Lord opposes all who intend to deceive others and speaks against it throughout Scripture. Here are a few examples:

1. Exodus 20:16 – “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
2. Proverbs 12:22 – “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.”
3. Proverbs 19:5 – “A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.”
4. Colossians 3:9-10 – “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
5. Ephesians 4:25 – “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
6. Psalm 101:7 – “No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.”
7. Revelation 21:8 – “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Wisdom’s benefits and warnings (Proverbs 6:20-35)

In the final section of Proverbs 6, God emphasizes the benefits of wisdom and obedience to God’s Law. Furthermore, the writer warns against adultery once again, stressing that it can lead to ruin and shame. Also, this section concludes with a warning against stealing, which also leads to serious consequences.

The reason stealing leads to serious consequences is because it harms the victim who one stole from, damages trust, is against the law, undermines the economy, is a gateway to more crime, and causes guilt and shame to the perpetrator. For these reasons, God warns us to flee from these temptations in order to live a peaceful and upright life. He doesn’t want us to deal with these harmful consequences.

Conclusion

Overall, God desires that we seek His counsel because it’s in our favor to do so. Not only will we reap the benefits of making wise decisions, but it will also protect us from making poor decisions, such as committing adultery, stealing, lying, and being arrogant and prideful.

Finally, in Galatians, God commands us to put on the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is my hope that you will apply these principles and truths to your life today. Blessings!