It is important to know how to recognize and interpret a proverb. It is one of the most critical points of “wisdom”. In the scripture, there is a section of books called “wisdom literature”. Of those, we have the book of Proverbs. It is the writings of the wisest man who ever lived, Solomon. Solomon was wise, but in the end didn’t listen to his own wisdom, which he obtained by God. So what he says is not only wise, it is full of practical understanding because it has been put to practice and he therefore has evidence of the folly and blessing of those actions. Solomon wrote this book with poetic vise and should be understood similarly as when Jesus spoke in parable.
From the book of Proverbs I want to introduce you to: The 27.7 principle. “The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.” (Proverbs 27.7)
Here we see the person who has a soul full of something does not want or see the need of something else. I’m curious if this can also mean someone rather than just something. When we are full of ourselves, is there any room for anyone else? If we are full of someone else, like a friend or infatuation, can we loath the time we have to carve out for someone else? Is it accurate to say that when we are full of ourselves and others that there is no room, or at least less room for God? Can it be said that we could even “loath” the time we have to spend with or for God? Personally I have seen selfishness on the rise like I have never seen before. The scripture tells us of this phenomena in 2 Timothy 3.1-8 and Titus 1.9-13 along with many other locations Jesus himself spoke of. “Lovers of themselves” is condemned in these passages, yet it is celebrated as spiritual virtue within the churches of America today! This witness is true, for it is manifested in the loathsomeness of some toward God and serving Him. ‘I had to come‘ is part of the common nomenclature of the day… amongst believers! God help us!
Conversely, when we are full of God, can it be that we are much more guarded at what and whom we ‘waste’ time with? The truth of the passage is simple: When we are full, we do not see the need nor the want in any other thing. In fact, we will loath the best thing, because we are already full. I love chocolate, but when I have had a large steak and a side, plus a salad and a couple of pieces of bread, then chased it down with some sweet tea… I do not want to see anything but the ticket. A full soul loathes even the honeycomb, you see.
For the hungry soul though, even the bitter things seem sweet. This is where application can be made that cuts me right to the heart… There are millions of people today who desperately need a savior. They are starving! They have nothing to satisfy them eternally. To them, even the most bitter of things this world have to offer, look appetizing. In fact, they begin to crave those things more and more. We have the sweetest of things to offer their hungry soul, why do we keep it under wraps?
We must tell others of the Jesus that can not only save, but also satisfy your every craving!
What are you full of today?