Together in Christ: 'Too Many Sweets Sicken Our Delight' — Proverbs 25:27

Saturday, June 22, 2024

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It's not good to eat too much honey, and it's not good to seek honors for yourself.
— Proverbs 25:27 NLT

Key Thought

Many of us struggle to feel important. This insecurity manifests itself in conversations with others when we brag about ourselves or bring the conversation back to ourselves with a flattering story about something we have done or experienced. When we see the "humble brag" in others, we should examine our own speech to avoid such a self-exalting focus. The Holy Spirit wants us to know that paying too much attention to ourselves and our worth is similar to when we "eat too much honey" or other sweets. In consuming sweets, we move from delight to sickeningly and cloyingly sweet — that yucky, "Argh, I've had too much sweet stuff!" feeling.

Our wisdom today about our relationships comes from Proverbs. This proverb reminds us that we must not dismiss the humble brag, the insecure routing of conversations to end in our having the final word or the cute retort. When we suck all conversation dry to satisfy our lagging self-esteem, we leave a sickening taste in the hearts of those around us. Today's relationship verse is straightforward and blunt: "... it's not good to seek honors for yourself." The image chosen is powerful: Just as too much honey loses its delightfulness and becomes sickening, so can we if we seek honor for ourselves. Rather than self-promotion, whether direct or implied indirectly, we need to remember the following principle in every conversation:

Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. [1]
[1] Ephesians 4:29.

Today's Prayer

Loving Father, I need Your help to guard my conversation and reign in my desire to feel important. O Holy Spirit, filter my words through Your desire to bless and build up others through my speech. I want to honor Your desire to bring others to Jesus and lift others who need encouragement. Forgive me for my selfishness and insecurity that often destructively poisons my desire to be a blessing. I ask for Your help in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Ephesians 4:25-32, 5:1-2
  • James 1:19-25

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Illustration

Illustration of Proverbs 25:27 NLT — It's not good to eat too much honey, and it's not good to seek honors for yourself.

About This Devotional

Together in Christ is a daily devotional that focuses on what Scripture teaches about godly living in relationships.

'Together in Christ' is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.