"He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet and drinketh damage."
Proverbs 26:6
Part 2
Yesterday: Be careful Where You Place Your Confidence!
“He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool.”
It is foolish and damaging to trust a fool with an important errand.
Today: You can be Refreshing to Your Boss/Parents
A fool does not care whom he or she hurts. But a believer with integrity has a deep concern for the person they are trying to help. One of the reasons that God put us on His earth is to help others and never harm them. This thought does not enter the mind of a fool! They can care less when they fail to deliver your message on their errand, even though it harms you and it –
“Cutteth off the feet.”
What a gruesome picture this is. Our way of saying this today might be, “he breaks his neck!”[1] (K&D).
Using a fool to help “is useless and potentially damaging. It is like cutting off one’s feet, that is, the message does not get delivered; it is as if the sender tried to take it himself by walking the distance without feet”[2] (BKC).
When the fool fails in his assignment, it is like he has crippled his boss. He “mutilates him, spoils the work which the messenger ought to fulfill”[3] (Barnes).
In contrast to the fool is the faithful messenger who serves the sender of the message very well. This messenger is not a fool, and the job gets done. This dependable man or woman brings health (healing) to the one he/she was sent by.
“A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health” (Proverbs 13:17).
This faithful emissary thinks of the wellbeing of his/her boss. They will choose their words and behavior carefully as a “reliable representative.” This kind of helper is refreshing!
“As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters” (Proverbs 25:13).
Did you notice that your “faithfulness” can be refreshing to the one who asked for your help? Believers, let’s be faithful and not foolish, be refreshing and not burdensome!
Come back tomorrow, and we will see picture illustrations from the Bible that can help us live and think right.
Quote: “How can there be great faith where there is little faithfulness?”[4] (William Gurnall).
[1] Keil & Delitzsch, Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament, the electronic version in eSword. Proverbs 26:6.
[2] Walvoord, J. F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 962). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. The emphasis is theirs.
[3] Albert Barnes, Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, the electronic version in eSword. Proverbs 26:6.
[4] Gurnall’s quote Downloaded: Wednesday, May 12, 2021. From: https://graciousquotes.com/faithfulness/.