Bible Commentaries
Proverbs 23

Verses 1-3

Pro 23:1-3

Proverbs 23:1-3

"When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him that is before thee; And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food."

George DeHoff commented on this: "Proper etiquette in eating is encouraged. One’s table manners are important. When invited to the table of one’s betters, he should eat moderately, and not as half-starved. It is better not to eat and drink those things to which one is not accustomed.”

Proverbs 23:1. The usual one-verse “saying” of Proverbs gives way here to an eight-verse set of instructions. To be invited to dine with a ruler “would be a great honor to a man of lowly birth, or to one of the middle class, to whom the manners of courts and palaces were practically unknown” (“Pulpit Commentary”). Since the invitation was extended not out of kingly politeness but with an ulterior motive (Proverbs 23:7-8), our verses suggest that the guest should consider (look into) the one who invited him rather than just the delicious food before him.

Proverbs 23:2. In the presence of such a bountiful, delicious banquet, a man of appetite would be tempted to eat much more than he should. When away from home, one should act as if he had been away from home before. The ruler’s ulterior motives in inviting him might be better fulfilled if the man ate and drank beyond wisdom, for in that condition the host may be able to extract information from the guest that he would not otherwise be able to obtain (if this be his motive),

Proverbs 23:3. A further warning, Daniel 1:8 also refers to the king’s food as “danties.” They are “deceitful” food in that they have insincerely set before the man, and for him to eat to excess will somehow fulfill the ruler’s purpose rather than the best interests of the man eating.

Verses 4-5

Pro 23:4-5

Proverbs 23:4-5

"Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven."

Paul warned against the desire to be rich; and here we have a warning in the Old Testament. The heart of Paul’s warning (1 Timothy 6:9 f) centered upon moral and spiritual damage to the seeker; and here the warning stresses the nature of riches. They have the startling ability to leave their possessor `holding the bag.’ Ask any man who has experienced great loss (1) by the death of a trusted partner, a stock market crash, an earthquake, a flood, a tornado, a hurricane, a drought, a revolution, a robbery, embezzlement, fraud, some changing fashion, or any one of a thousand other ways that riches can make themselves wings and fly away. "There is an ancient proverb: `Possessions are like sparrows, or locusts, in flight that can find no place to alight.’”

Proverbs 23:4. By thus associating with a ruler, the guest may have thought that this was his first step toward the life of the rich, Or, having eaten of such pleasant food, the guest may have determined that he too will someday be rich. Here he is warned of the many weary years and hardships accompanying getting and being rich. So he is told to cease from his “own wisdom” which in the long run will not prove to be truly wise at all. Other warnings against aspiring to be rich: Matthew 6:19-20; John 6:27; 1 Timothy 6:7-10. Other warnings against following one’s own wisdom: Proverbs 3:5; Romans 12:16.

Proverbs 23:5. Riches are here spoken of as “that which is not”. They are “uncertain” (1 Timothy 6:17). They may be “here” today but “gone” tomorrow (through economic crashes, bad investments, etc.). Kings often had to empty their treasure houses to satisfy invading kings (1 Kings 18:15-16). Consider also Ecclesiastes 5:11; Ecclesiastes 5:15-16.

Verses 6-8

Pro 23:6-8

Proverbs 23:6-8

"Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties: For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee. The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, And lose thy sweet words."

This rendition is an excellent comment on this passage: "Don’t eat at the table of a stingy man or be greedy for the fine food he serves. Come on and have some more, he says, but he doesn’t mean it. What he thinks is what he really is. You will vomit up all you have eaten, and all your flattery will be wasted.”

Proverbs 23:6. An “evil eye” here had to do with a covetous eye. Compare Deuteronomy 15:9 for a similar use of it. Since this is a repetition of the warning in Proverbs 23:3, the ruler’s ulterior motive was his own personal gain to result from the man’s being his guest.

Proverbs 23:7. He would be invited to eat and drink, but it was not out of sheer hospitality. This is the deceitfulness mentioned in Proverbs 23:3. This saying is warning us against this type of person. Romans 12:9 (“Let love be without hypocrisy”) warns us not to be this type of person ourselves. Our verse also shows it isn’t what we say or do but the heart that determines the real person.

Proverbs 23:8. The dainties were sweet and tasted good, but later he would be able to see through it all, and then he would vomit them up, so to speak. In other words, it was sweeter going down than coming up. Wisdom always says to look to the end of a matter, to the outcome, before one participates, invests, etc.

Verse 9

Pro 23:9

Proverbs 23:9

"Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words."

The sacred words of the Christ are a perfect comment on this: "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs; neither cast your pearls before swine" (Matthew 7:6).

Proverbs 23:9. Some people show they are fools by despising words of wisdom. We are obligated to share our understanding with those who do not understand, but when we find one who will not listen, will not learn, will not appreciate, but will only laugh at and make fun of that which we say, it is time to turn away and go to someone who will listen (Acts 13:46; Acts 18:5-6). Jesus said, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine” (Matthew 7:6). “Pulpit Commentary”: “It is a mere casting of pearls before swine to speak to such a man of high aims, righteous motives, self-sacrifice.”

Verses 10-12

Pro 23:10-12

Proverbs 23:10-12

"Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless: For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against thee. Apply thy heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge."

The first line here is also found in Proverbs 22:28. See the comments there. The fatherless and widows were in the greatest danger of suffering damage by the fraudulent removal of a landmark; and the passage states that God, as their Champion, will defend them.

Proverbs 23:10. A “landmark” was usually a stone or a pillar of stones placed to mark out the boundary of one’s land. This verse contains a prohibition against altering those. Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:17; and Proverbs 22:28 contain similar prohibitions. By moving (or removing) the landmark one could be claiming and using land that rightfully belonged to one’s neighbor. This verse contains a special warning if the land taken belonged to the “fatherless”.

Proverbs 23:11. God will look out for the right of the orphaned, and He will not be easy on one who has taken land away from such. Proverbs 22:23 says, “Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil thee.”

Proverbs 23:12. It is not merely hearing instruction but applying one’s heart to what is being said that really adds learning and knowledge to one. The Bible does not favor a person going his way and finding out everything for himself; it emphasizes instruction and urges each one to learn all he can from the instruction of others.

Verses 13-14

Pro 23:13-14

Proverbs 23:13-14

"Withhold not correction from the child; And, if thou beat him with the rod, he will not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shall deliver his soul from Sheol."

If there had been any doubt about God’s commanding his followers to discipline their sons and daughters, this passage would have removed it. The two verses here are parallel; and that clarifies the meaning of Proverbs 23:13. At first glance, it might seem that the parent is to beat his son within in an inch of death; but, "This does not mean that the scourging will not kill him," but it means that, "If you chastise him you will save him from the doom of the rebellious son (Deuteronomy 31:18-21).” The following rendition obscures the true meaning:

"Do not hesitate to discipline a youth; Though you beat him with a stick, he will not die; Indeed you should beat him with a stick, And so save his life from Sheol.”

Proverbs 23:13. Every child needs correction at times. He or she will not be correct in life without correction. At times this correction will have to be administered with the rod (whippings), and the language of our verse indicates that sometimes such must be administered with great severity.

Proverbs 23:14. “Sheol” of the Old Testament was parallel with “Hades” of the New. When one dies, his spirit goes to “Sheol” (“Hades”). Instead of causing a child to die through physical chastisements (Proverbs 23:13), such punishments will actually keep a child from a premature death through God’s wrath or through a child’s own foolishness or other ways.

Verses 15-16

Pro 23:15-16

Proverbs 23:15-16

"My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine: Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things."

We have here a tender and beautiful expression of a father’s devout and earnest ambition for his son, and a statement of what joy and happiness a truly upright son will bring to his father.

Proverbs 23:15. Other passages showing that good children bring joy to parents: Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 23:24-25; Proverbs 29:3. There is a play on words here: “If THY HEART be wise, MY HEART will be glad,” Oh, how parents wait for and look for evidences of their children’s good qualities! Surely if children thought of this, how happy they could actually make their parents!. And how we can make our heavenly Father pleased by our wisely doing His will!

Proverbs 23:16. The wise “heart” of Proverbs 23:15 will reflect itself in “lips” that speak right things. How much good judgment is reflected by wise words, excellent speech, etc.!

Verses 17-18

Pro 23:17-18

Proverbs 23:17-18

"Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of Jehovah all the day long: For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off."

Concerning the blessed hope of holy religious faith, mortals need all the encouragement they can find; and here the sacred text thunders the message, "Surely there is a reward." The hope of heaven is a reality. Christ said, "In my Father’s house, there are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you." (John 14:2). This being true, why then, should any Christian envy the ephemeral joys of sinners, purchased by them at the price of eternal death?

Proverbs 23:17. To envy sinners is not to be fearing Jehovah properly. Other passages that warn against envying sinners: Psalms 37:1; Proverbs 3:31; Proverbs 24:1; Proverbs 24:19. Yet people at times do envy sinners (Psalms 73:3-7). But if one truly fears Jehovah, he will have no temptation to envy His enemies (sinners) upon whom God’s wrath will ultimately fall.

Proverbs 23:18. Yes, a godly person’s reward is coming, and how great it will be! Such’s hope will be fulfilled and not cut off: 1 Peter 1:3-5; Psalms 37:37. “Pulpit Commentary”: “The writer has a firm belief in the moral government of God and in a future life which shall rectify all anomalies.” If the poor man of Luke 16 were tempted to envy the rich man, it would have been a mistake because he himself ended up so much better off (Luke 16:25).

Verses 19-21

Pro 23:19-21

Proverbs 23:19-21

"Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way. Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh: For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags."

This word of the wise warns against drunkenness, gluttony and sloth (drowsiness). It is significant that the Bible condemns drinking wine; but when the translators and commentators get through with this, the condemnation always prohibits "drinking wine to excess" ... or "the heavy drinker.” There’s not a word in the Bible about "excessive drinking," the condemnation is against drinking. The graveyard is full of fools who thought they could handle their liquor! This writer has held too many tragic funerals that resulted from alcohol to allow any respect whatever for this common social vice.

Proverbs 23:19. Again the father appeals for the son to be “wise”. Remember, it is a “wise” son that makes a glad father (Proverbs 10:1). Proverbs 4:23 speaks of the necessity one keeping his heart with all diligence. We note here that one is not to let his heart wander wheresoever society, trends, fads, or friends may lead it, but one is responsible to “guide” his heart in the way it should go. Failure to do this has been a great weakness of mankind.

Proverbs 23:20. The Bible sounds many warnings against taking up with wine and drunkenness: Isaiah 5:22; Matthew 24:48-51; Luke 21:34; Romans 13:13; Ephesians 5:18. But gluttony is also noted here as wrong. Jesus’ enemies tried to down Him by calling him’ a gluttonous man (Matthew 11:19). In affluent times many are guilty of both winebibbing and gluttony.

Proverbs 23:21. It costs money to eat like a glutton and drink like a drunkard. Many a man has devoured and destroyed a small fortune in this way. He is also brought to poverty by not showing up for work or by not being able to hold his job. The “drowsiness” has to do with his sleeping off his drunkenness. What a perversion of life!

Verses 22-23

Pro 23:22-23

Proverbs 23:22-23

"Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old. Buy the truth, and sell it not; Yea, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding."

"The first verse here refers to heeding the instructions of father and mother, rather than honoring them.” A number of scholars have tried to rearrange the order of the verses in this chapter, but without success. What is written here makes just as much sense in our present arrangement as in any other.

The words "buy the truth" do not mean that it can be purchased with money. That teaching which one gladly receives, believes and accepts as completely trustworthy is thus `bought’ in the sense of this passage.

Proverbs 23:22. We are to listen to the wisdom and instruction of our fathers (Proverbs 1:8; Ephesians 6:1). How many sorrows and mistakes young men can avoid by hearkening to their fathers! Prodigals and know-it-alls don’t listen; in time they will see that they should have listened. Concerning despising one’s mother when she is old, “Pulpit Commentary” says, “When old age with its consequent infirmities comes upon thy mother, despise her not, but rather thank God for giving her long life, and profit by her love and long experience.”

Proverbs 23:23. “Truth,” spoken of in this verse as “wisdom, and instruction, and understanding,” is something to obtain at all costs and something not to part with regardless of what earthly or momentary gains one may get by doing so. “Pulpit Commentary”: “Consider truth as a thing of the highest value, and spare no pains, cost, or sacrifice to obtain it, and, when gotten, keep it safe; do not barter it for earthly profit or the pleasures of sense; do not be reasoned out of it, or laughed out of it...do not part with it for any consideration.”

Verses 24-25

Pro 23:24-25

Proverbs 23:24-25

"The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him. Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice."

Nothing can approach the fulfillment and joy that come to godly parents when their children after them walk in the right way. Thus, when Proverbs 23:25 pleads for the hearer to "allow" (let) his parents rejoice, it is an exhortation for him to love and obey the Word of God. "What a blessed thing is righteousness! It gives pleasure to him who practices it. It diffuses joy all around. Parents, friends, and all who fear God rejoice to see one walking in God’s truth. God in heaven approves of it, and the angels rejoice to see it.”

Proverbs 23:24. Again the subject of parental joy comes up (see Proverbs 23:15; Proverbs 10:1; Proverbs 15:20). Jesus brought joy to His Father (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5), and so have good children down through the centuries. Notice how that righteousness and wisdom bring joy and rejoicing just as unrighteousness and foolishness bring sorrow.

Proverbs 23:25. Proverbs 23:24 spoke of the joy of the father of a good child; this verse speaks of the joy of both the father and the mother. Much of a mother’s time and life is wrapped up in her children, and she is ever ready to rejoice over every success and attainment of her children.

Verses 26-28

Pro 23:26-28

Proverbs 23:26-28

"My son, give me thy heart: Let thine eyes delight in my ways. For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit. Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men."

"In Proverbs 23:27, the two lines introduce the two classes of unchaste women, the harlot and the adulteress; but the same destructive character is ascribed to both.” Although Toy and others dispute it, we feel that Deane is correct in making Wisdom personified the speaker in Proverbs 23:26. In Proverbs 23:28, the unchaste woman is said to increase the treacherous among men. A better rendition is, "She increases the faithless among men.”

How is this so? "The harlot causes her victim to be faithless to God, to his parents, to his wife, to his family, and to himself.”

Proverbs 23:26. Since Proverbs 23:27 begins with the explanatory word “for”, this verse is introducing what that and later verses develop; namely, a solemn warning against the wicked, harlot woman (a subject to which earlier sections devoted much material: Proverbs 5:1-23; Proverbs 6:20-35; Proverbs 7:1-27). Notice, too, that the passages in chapters 5, 6, 7 are always introduced with a similar getting of the son’s attention before beginning the actual material. This was to impress the son with what the father was saying.

Proverbs 23:27. She is given a double description, both of which resemble: a “deep ditch” and a “narrow pit”. She represents a danger to avoid. Proverbs 22:14 similarly says, “The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit; He that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.” Since there is nothing to gain by falling into a deep ditch and a narrow pit, Proverbs 6:32 rightfully says, “He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding.” Look at the dangers brought on by one’s disregarding this warning: Proverbs 5:11; Proverbs 6:32-34; Proverbs 7:22-23; Proverbs 7:26-27.

Proverbs 23:28. She is out working her trade (Proverbs 7:12). Like a robber she does not lose an opportunity (Proverbs 7:13-21). One such person “increaseth” the sinners upon earth, here called “the treacherous among men”. Men who thus become unfaithful to wives might well be described as “treacherous”! Malachi shows that men who turn from the wives of their youth deal “treacherously” with them (Malachi 2:10; Malachi 2:14-16.

Verses 29-30

Pro 23:29-30

Proverbs 23:29-30

"Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine."

Proverbs 23:29-35 are a song on the subject of drunkenness. All seven verses are included in this 18th `Word’ of the wise men. Taken as a unit, the passage says, "Liquor is poison; don’t touch it."

The Anchor Bible catches the spirit of these verses perfectly: "Who groans "Alas"? Who cries, "Woe is me"? Who gets into quarrels? Who has complaints? Who suffers needless wounds? Whose eyes are bloodshot? Those who linger over wine, who drain the mixing bowl." There were two ways of "mixing" wine. One way was diluting it with water; another way was to mix spices with it to increase its potency; and that is the type of `mixing’ mentioned here.

Proverbs 23:29. Six questions are raised that are answered in the next verse. From the consequences of drinking, the ancients suffered the same woes and sorrows as do moderns who imbibe. The drinker has “woe” in the physical problems brought on, in his social relations, in his finances, in his slavery to his habit, and in the punishment that awaits him (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21). The drinker has “sorrow” upon “sorrow” as does his family as a result of his drinking as do others whom he injures while intoxicated. The drinker knows “contentions”, for many fights take place at taverns. The drinker knows “complaining”, for he often complains of the way people treat him. The drinker has “wounds without cause”, for if he stayed sober, he would not get into the trouble he does. The drinker has “redness of eyes”, an outward commentary on the abuse that his body is inwardly suffering. Isaiah 5:11; Isaiah 5:22 also uses “woe” in warning against strong drink: “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that tarry late into the night, till wine inflame them!...Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink.” So does Habakkuk 2:15 : “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink.”

Proverbs 23:30. The six questions raised in Proverbs 23:29 are quickly and bluntly answered here: those who drink intoxicants. Time and its meaning seem to mean nothing to a drunkard, for he will spend hours drinking with others until they are drunken, and then he will sleep it off and seem not to care that he should be at his job instead of in bed. The expression “seek out” shows that drinkers go forth to get their booze; it is something they must obtain because of the habit they have developed and the appetite they have for booze.

Verses 31-32

Pro 23:31-32

Proverbs 23:31-32

"Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup. When it goeth down smoothly: At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder."

The very nature of alcohol is a strong argument against the drinking of any of it. The burning liquors of the present day are far more deadly and dangerous than were those of antiquity. "Social drinking easily turns into alcoholism; why then should people practice that which so rapidly enslaves hundreds of thousands"? Alcoholism is not a disease; it is the result of drinking; and in the history of the world no one ever became an alcoholic without drinking! It should be noted that nothing in the Word of God either recommends or tolerates "moderate drinking." "Moderate drinking" is a myth circulated by the liquor companies. "Moderate drinking" is only one of the earlier stages of becoming a drunkard.

Proverbs 23:31. On “red”, “Pulpit Commentary” says, “The wine of Palestine was chiefly red.” Drinkers like the color; they like the sparkle in the glass; they like the taste. On going down smoothly, “Pulpit Commentary:” “The wine pleases the palate, and passes over it without roughness or harshness.” This verse is a commandment to keep away from wine to avoid even the temptation to drink, for to avoid drinking wine the verse says, “Don’t even look upon it.” The only way to keep out of any bad habit is to stay as far from it as one can while depending upon God to help him.

Proverbs 23:32. No thinking person would ever start drinking if he considered the end of it. The booze companies don’t tell him how it will end. The fellows who offer him his first drink and will laugh at him if he doesn’t take it aren’t thinking of drink’s bitter end. But godly people are known for seeing what something produces, where it leads, and where it ends before they do it. Indeed wine “biteth like a serpent”, and it “stingeth like an adder”; yet the habit is far from dying out. “Pulpit Commentary:” “Wine is like the subtle poison of a serpent, which affects the whole body, and produces the most fatal consequences.” “Septuagint:” “At the last he stretches himself like one stricken by a serpent, and the venom is diffused through him as by a horned snake.”

Verses 33-35

Pro 23:33-35

Proverbs 23:33-35

"Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things. Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. They have stricken me, thou shalt say, and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again."

What we have here is a description of an alcoholic. His craving for alcohol dominates every other appetite. That line about lying on the top of a mast suggests an impossibility; and another rendition is: "Like one lying on top of the rigging."

Proverbs 23:33. A drunkard cannot trust his eyesight. Ever hear of a drunkard seeing two bridges before him and wondering which to drive over? And, oh, the foolish, the coarse, the vulgar, the wicked things that men say when drunk—things that embarrass polite society, that make youngsters laugh but angels weep!

Proverbs 23:34. As a drunkard’s whole system pitches and tosses and finally results in vomiting. His reeling, staggering, and uncertainty are referred to in Isaiah 28:7-8 : “These reel with wine, and stagger with strong drink...All tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.” Imagine trying to sleep on top of a ship’s mast! Such is comparable to a drunkard’s physical feelings.

Proverbs 23:35. “Pulpit Commentary”: “The drunken man has been beaten...but the blows did not pain him; his condition has rendered him insensible to pain. He has some vague idea that he has suffered certain rough treatment at the hands of his companions, but it has made no impression on him.” He will not be able to remember what happened to him while he was drunk. “When shall I awake?” refers to the prolonged sleep that his drunkenness has brought on. And yet in spite of all the woes and the sorrows and other bitter consequences that such a life has brought to him, you can be sure of this: when he does wake up, he won’t have any more sense than to go out and seek it again (Isaiah 56:12). What a tragedy!

Proverbs of Solomon - Proverbs 23:1-35

Open It

1. What methods of punishment (for example, spanking or time out) did your parents use when you were growing up?

2. What foods do you (sometimes) crave?

3. Why do you think most people drink alcoholic beverages?

Explore It

4. What is deceptive? (Proverbs 23:1-3)

5. What themes are developed in these sayings of the wise? (Proverbs 23:1-35)

6. How did the author characterize riches? (Proverbs 23:4-5)

7. What did the author say about the food of the stingy person? (Proverbs 23:6-8)

8. Why should we not withhold discipline from children? (Proverbs 23:13-14)

9. What did the author encourage the reader to do? (Proverbs 23:17-18)

10. What advice did the author have for our associations with people? (Proverbs 23:19-21)

11. How should we treat our parents? Why? (Proverbs 23:22-25)

12. How did the author warn men about prostitutes? (Proverbs 23:26-28)

13. What was the author’s advice concerning alcohol? Why? (Proverbs 23:29-35)

Get It

14. How can food be deceptive?

15. In what way should we be careful about the way we enjoy delicacies or comforts in life, including food?

16. If riches are fleeting, why do people strive so hard to acquire them?

17. How would you describe your attitude toward the acquisition and importance of wealth?

18. How is being stingy with respect to your possessions as bad as wearing yourself out pursuing riches?

19. Why would a parent withhold discipline from his or her child?

20. How could disciplining a child save him or her from death?

21. When and why have you been envious of a sinner?

22. How would you describe the author’s attitude toward alcohol?

23. Why should we be wary of alcohol?

24. How would you describe your attitude toward wine and alcohol in general?

25. What precautions or "survival tactics" should we practice with regard to alcohol?

Apply It

26. In what way can you change your behavior to honor God with your eating habits?

27. How can you be generous rather than stingy with your possessions today?

28. What do you want to change or improve about the way you discipline your children?