EIEIO
23
A poor person’s farm may produce much food,
but injustice sweeps it all away.
24
Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.
25
The godly eat to their hearts’ content,
but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
Verse 23
Evil people can destroy many good things. This is one reason why today many people are poor. God has given great wealth to the people of the world. God gave land, which can produce plentiful supplies of food. But often, evil men prevent the supply of food to poor people.
As Christians, we must be fair and generous. Especially, poor people need our help.
Verse 24
A good parent should sometimes punish his child. The parent does not hate the child. Instead, the parent loves the child. This is why the parent punishes the child. This punishment will teach the child to have discipline.
Verse 25
This verse is not only about food. It is about satisfaction.
An evil person always wants more things. He wants more food. He wants more money. He wants more possessions. He wants to be famous and successful. Even if he is already famous, then he wants to become more famous.
A good person does not need these things. He is content with the things that God gives to him.
The world doesn't have a food problem because of its large population. It's more about how food is distributed, which the first proverb points out. Some leaders might use food as a weapon against their enemies. In the United States, some groups argue against immigration by saying we're already full, but the data show we actually need more workers.
In today's world, where spanking is often seen as child abuse, Verse 24 might seem outdated. Sadly, some people who didn't truly care for children have used this verse to justify severe punishment. However, that doesn't mean it can't be used appropriately. For example, if a young child tries to run across a busy street, simply reasoning with them might not be enough—you might need to physically stop them.
Verse 25's message is repeated throughout Proverbs: righteousness leads to life, while wickedness leads to death.
Let me ask you: Looking back on your own childhood, do you feel like the discipline you received was ever too harsh?
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