Stranger Priorities

(Proverbs 5:10 KJV)  Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

We have a double emphasis in this verse on how the equity of our lives can be siphoned off by others.  Here the NASB gives a better translation.  In the KJV you have “stranger” used twice.  The NASB uses two different words, “strangers” (2114a) and “alien” (5237) for a simple reason; they are different words in the Hebrew.  This has the sense of a prostitute or adulteress. 

The point is that there are people outside the family of God who want to use up our time, energy and resources for their purposes, not God’s.  To a certain degree we are committed.  We need to work and earn a living.  We need to apply for our driver’s license.  We have to file our taxes.  There are demands on us that reject any spiritual significance.  We need to make sure that we don’t allow them to drain off the blessings that God has given us.

So?  Fulfill your commitments but don’t forget that God still wants your first fruits and your first love.