PROVERBS 6:1

KJ21

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast struck thy hand with a stranger,

ASV

My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger;

AMP

My son, if you have become surety (guaranteed a debt or obligation) for your neighbor, If you have given your pledge for [the debt of] a stranger or another [outside your family],

Typing in “Life Lessons” in my bible app resulted in a view into Proverbs 6. The title of that proverb is Practical Warnings. The title was added by the editors of the ESV, so the assumption is that this Proverb contains some practical advice.

In modern terms would we cosign a loan for a stranger?

Genesis 4:9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?”

OK, bad example but if you are not willing to secure family, why secure a stranger?

This is old school advice. We find new advice in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Luke 10.

 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

How  can we resolve the differences between the two forms of advice?

In the Proverb the neighbor wanted a loan they were not qualified to get on their own. In Luke 10 the neighbor had been wronged.

Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself.

Sage advice.

Genesis 4:7 a. If you do well, will you not be accepted?

“If” occurs 1,678 times in 1,507 verses in the ESV. (source BLB.ORG)

Returning once again to the first use of a word in our bible we may learn something about the conditions surrounding the use of the word.

“If” presupposes an alternative condition based on choice and result. It is an unknown that seeks some assurance.

For example, “if” I had known what would happen to me in Vietnam, I might have made different choices. A change in career paths does not guarantee the results.  Success or failure, pleasure or pain, a long life or a short one, advice given can be helpful, if taken.

The goal in this first use is acceptance. Our problem with never knowing “if” is just who defines what is acceptable and what is not.  Do the results define our opinion of our choices?

That is an existential question, is it not?

Life presents us with many choices. Some are limited, some are limitless. What defines our path of least resistance does not always get us to where we want to be. The path less traveled holds no clues to where it will lead. Being clueless is a bad thing.

Teach your children well.

Some children are taught to hate. Some are taught life is nothing but a series of abuses. Some are not taught at all and left to a cruel and ruthless world to teach them what is hot and not to touch, but we get burned that way.

“If” we leave our children in the hands of the “clueless” they will surely lose their way.

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

Note closely that there is no ”if” in that statement of fact.

“If” you want to be someone’s companion, wouldn’t it be a wise “choice” to be with He who has the oil of gladness?