Do we feed wisely?
TODAY’S PROVERB: The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of understanding. Proverbs 10:21What we say to others can nourish them, or give them heartburn.Sometimes we have so much swelling up inside us that we want to share. We may feel like we want to explode with all the insights and knowledge GOD has given us.
The thing is, the “food” we have to offer is only helpful if the other person can “eat” and “digest” it.
Here’s where wisdom is so important. We must use our discernment and understanding muscles when we “feed” others.
If the hungry person is a “baby” in the Spirit, force-feeding them solid food rather than milk (1 Corinthians 3:2), will only have negative effects. The person may “like the taste,” but they aren’t ready to “digest” it and it can have harmful effects to their growth.
If they don’t have “teeth” to chew on it for a while, they won’t have the means to digest it. And we all know what digestive problems feel like–being the cause of that for a young one in the LORD would make us feel terrible, too.
The brand new “baby” believer is going to need frequent feedings of “milk.” They need regular, simple nourishment of the basics. Who Jesus is. Who they are. How much they’re loved. If we’re the one responsible for those feedings, it takes a lot of effort, but is so rewarding.
A “growing” believer may think they can handle more than their mind and spirit can handle. They can “feed” themselves in the word, but can get lost in all the options. They may over-indulge in one area and be under-nourished in the important things. All this can produce spiritual tummy aches.
If GOD chooses you to help with this person’s nutrition, you may need to help them with a well-balanced Biblical “meal plans.”
On the other hand, if we “feed” a more mature believer baby food, they won’t receive it well. A more mature believer will want heartier meals, unless they are ill or injured.
When someone is “sick” or “hurt” due to circumstances in their walk, or they’re actually sick or injured, feeding them gently with nourishing meals is important to their healing. Sometimes it’s the basics of baby food. I know when my sister died how much of a blessing it was to just hear the simple message that GOD loved her and loved me. Those sweet meals, easily digested.
For those of us who are well-fed, our natural inclination is to feed others in one form or another. We can feed through teaching, study, creative arts, worship, literature, and prayer.
Knowing how, when, and what to feed means we must work in obedience and cooperation with the Holy Spirit’s direction. Living wisdom is how we exercise that obedience.
Knowing that we’re partnering with our Heavenly Father in feeding His children is an honor and joy.
May we “feed” well, my friends.
Proverbs 10:21, Tree of Life Bible Society, Tree of Life Version – TLV #tlvbible #tlvproverbs
[WATCH MONDAY through FRIDAY LIVE at 8:30EST, Tree of Life Bible Society‘s CEO, Daniah Greenberg and me, Terri Gillespie, Author dig a little deeper with the book of Proverbs. Watch previous episodes there as well. Stay wise, my friends!]
