An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Friday, August 5, 2016

Strangers and Brothers

(Proverbs 5:3 KJV)  For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

The woman referred to here is guilty of one main characteristic.  She is an outsider.  The description is different in different translations.  The “adulteress” (2114a) of the NASB is literally the feminine form of “stranger”.  It is often translated “foreigner”.  The context here obviously refers to someone with adultery on their mind but the label is saying that this person is not a neighbor.

In our current day we are struggling with how to treat people from other countries.  We see floods of people fleeing from poverty and violence.  Mixed in are those who are not fleeing but are coming to destroy us.  How are we as Christians to respond to these people.  As usual the Bible takes a balanced and reasoned approach.  Here you see the warning against those who are different.  It is in the choice of words.  On the other hand we are commanded to treat these people fairly.  This is a frequent.  Here is one example.
(Exodus 22:21 KJV)  Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.
So?  Be wary of people outside the faith but treat them with kindness.  The concern is not that they have different customs but that they are aliens from the promise of God.  Christian brotherhood transcends nationality but has consistent morality.  Know the difference. 

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