Sweet Decay

(Proverbs 25:16 KJV)  Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Yesterday I was noticing that we are told to enjoy the good things.  Now, just a few verses later the word switches from “enjoy” to “moderation”.  Keep in mind the danger of proof-texting and the importance of context. 

Often moderation is a matter of acceptance.  Proverbs warns about being consumed with getting rich or getting an inheritance too quickly.  The Christian life has goals and ambition but the underlying motivation is to bring glory to God.  It is bound by a belief in Providence and walking in faith.  There will be lean times and times of plenty.  We practice moderation by accepting what is while we work for the better.

Often moderation is a matter of following the directions.  Medication is a good example.  Even simple things like over the counter pain killers will tell you to only take so many pills in 24 hours and not to go over a certain number of days.  Just because one is good it does not mean that 10 will be ten times as good.  Too much of a “good” thing can kill you.

So?  Enjoy the good stuff but don’t overdo it.  Don’t lose your sense of priorities.  God has allowed for variety and the appetite that enjoys more when motivated by hunger.