Wisdom is More... and Not...

16 

If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,

    lest you have your fill of it and vomit it.

17 

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,

    lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

18 

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

    is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

19 

Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble

    is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

20 

Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart

    is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

    and like vinegar on soda.

21 

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

    and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

22 

for you will heap burning coals on his head,

    and the Lord will reward you.

23 

The north wind brings forth rain,

    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24 

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

25 

Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

    so is good news from a far country.

26 

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain

    is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

27 

It is not good to eat much honey,

    nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.

28 

A man without self-control

    is like a city broken into and left without walls.

(Proverbs 25:16-28)

Wisdom is more than common sense.  When we look at this string of sayings, a lot of these statements make sense, bringing a nod to our heads, as they describe experiences we may have had.  But some are counter-intuitive, like giving our enemy food and water. There is something deeper than "common sense" to wisdom; there is more - something God can see that we cannot see.  Something else we see here once again is how more is not always better or wise. Honey is good, but more, excess, is not.  Doing things for other, and doing "above and beyond" is basically good, except when it comes to giving an evil man his way all the time.  In other words, even words of wisdom can get us into trouble if we do not include the Author of Wisdom in applying them to our lives. They are more than "rules of the road"; they are discussion starters between us and God.