CAST NOT YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE… Wisdom tips for a successful daily living

WISDOM TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL DAILY LIVING

TOPIC: CAST NOT YOUR PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
By Rev. Innocent Chukwudi Peace Udochukwu
President Living Fountain Ministries Int’l LIFOM

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you”
Mathew 7:6

Summary: The “fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” or understanding. This “fear” is a reverential regard for God who has communicated His will and purpose to us and to whom we are accountable for our actions.

Before Jesus says, “Do not cast your pearls before swine,” He says, “Do not give dogs what is sacred.” An analogy mentioning dogs is also used in Proverbs: “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly” (Proverbs 26:11).

Zeal should always be tempered by prudence. There are times when it would be treason to truth to introduce it as a topic of conversation,-when men are in such a frame of mind that they will be sure rather to cavil at it than to believe it. Not only speak thou well, but speak thou at the right time, for silence is sometimes golden. See that thou hast thy measure of golden silence as well as of silver speech.

This verse makes it clear that Jesus does not exclude every kind of judgment in Matthew 7:1-2 for here He just as plainly commands a certain kind of right judgment or discernment in this verse, for such discrimination is necessary in order to determine who is a dog and a hog!

“NEVER ASSOCIATE WITH IDIOTS AT THEIR OWN LEVEL, BECAUSE, BEING AN INTELLIGENT MAN, YOU’LL LIKE TO DEAL WITH THEM ON THEIR OWN LEVEL,… AND ON THEIR OWN LEVEL, THEY’LL BEAT YOU EVERY TIME”
French Writer Jean Cocteau

Pearls before Swine
Prologue of Solomon’s book of Proverbs ends with a choice of two paths. – an invitation from Lady Wisdom and an invitation from Lady Folly. These descriptions and quotations of Wisdom and Folly are a study in similarities and contrasts. Both Wisdom and Folly call out from a house situated in the highest point of the city. Both begin with the same invitation: ‘Let all who are simple come in here,’ . Lady Wisdom is inviting her guests to a meal however Lady Folly’s invitation is definitely not to a meal. We shall look into this later. Both Wisdom and Folly use proverbs; Wisdom’s speech concludes with a series of proverbs, ending with, ‘If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer’ (Proverbs 9:12). Folly has only one proverb, but it is revealing: ‘Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious’ (Proverbs 9:17).

Solomon shows these similarities only to point out the glaring differences between them. Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. (verse 1-2) and she works at preparing a sumptuous banquet offering wine and meats to her guests while Folly sits at her door, loud [as was the adulteress in Proverbs 7:11], undisciplined, and without knowledge. What Folly was offering was not food and water. There is also the differences in outcome. Wisdom offers a future, a call to maturity, and in a life. Folly only offers the immediate pleasure of an illicit nature enjoyed outside their intended boundaries, hiding the fact that such pleasure brings death.

Lady Folly ‘s glamour however dependents on cosmetics and clothes (7:10). Wisdom’s pillars of seven is no doubt symbolic of completeness and perfection.

The description of wisdom’s meal paints a picture of a true feast in a lavish, even sacred setting. The opening verse states that she has built her own house and that this construction involved setting up “seven pillars.” Pillars would only be used in building a house of substantial size and quality, and the number seven implies some special character to the house.

Partaking of this feast leads to life (Proverbs9:6). The connection between wisdom and life is frequently made in Proverbs : “For whoever finds me finds life” (8:35a); “Long life is in her right hand…She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her” (3:16a, 18a). To accept wisdom’s invitation is to embrace the life that God has designed for us.

Lady folly’s invite says;
Let all who are simple come in here!’ she says to those who lack judgment.

*”NEVER ARGUE WITH STUPID PEOPLE. THEY WILL DRAG YOU DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL AND BEAT YOU WITH EXPERIENCE.”
Mark Twain

“Leave simple ones and live, and walk in the way of understanding. For one to stay in the company of simpletons would mean to fail to use good judgment and to pursue a way of life that is senseless. By seeking wisdom or truly wanting to have it and to live accordingly, individuals would continue to live a purposeful life and would not shorten their life through foolhardiness and senseless actions.

“Saints are not to be simpletons; they are not to be judges, but, also, they are not to be fools”

When men are evidently unable to perceive the purity of a great truth, do not set it before them. They are like mere dogs, and if you set holy things before them they will be provoked to “&turn again and rend you”: holy things are not for the profane. “Without are dogs”: they must not be allowed to enter the holy place.
SHALOM!

Rev. Innocent Chukwudi Peace Udochukwu is an Evangelist, Media Consultant, Activist, Blogger, Entrepreneur and a Broadcaster.