Meat and Flame Enthusiasts

The title for today’s piece is the slogan of an upmarket restaurant in our area called “MARBLE” and a voucher from this restaurant was without a doubt the best gift my husband, Craig received for his birthday this year! 

A wonderful invitation to a gastronomic feast! I am already planning my outfit, thinking of all the things that I want to eat, and, who we should invite to come with us!

I wonder if I would be just as excited if someone had given him a voucher for a meal at a common fast food restaurant?

I love the way Proverbs 9 uses an “invitation” to clearly illustrate our choices in life. It is a brilliant literary masterpiece!

The writer contrasts two invitations to choose from (vs 1-6 and vs 13-18):

The house of Wisdom and the house of Foolish. 

Where do I want to get my sustenance from, where do I want to spend my time eating?

• From Wisdom’s place – a palace – roomy, planned, a kitchen, a dining room…

OR

• From Foolish’s place – a Throne – seating for one only, breezy, up high…?
• Wisdom’s place is secure, built on seven pillars 

OR 

• Foolish’s restless place?
• Wisdom has prepared a banquet feast, wine, the table is set ready and waiting 

OR 

• do I want to go to Foolish who has not prepared anything to really live on, no sustenance, just illicit sex?
• Wisdom invites all 

but 

• Foolish only invites those who are easily led astray – should I be thinking who my life companions are going be?
• The results from Wisdom’s invitation are great – you will find righteousness, wisdom, long life, every year more fruitful than the one before – living-understanding (vs 6-12).

HOWEVER

• Foolish does not have such a good track record – “all her guests soon become citizens of hell” (vs 18).

We can choose.

This proverb speaks so clearly of the good news of Jesus Christ – ALL can come to His table to eat. The table has the sacrifice of Jesus, the wine of the Holy Spirit – “Come and dine at my table and drink of my wine.” (vs 5).

Right standing before God is a gift to take home, life in abundance is ours because of the sacrifice of Jesus.

Let’s be discerning eaters – “meat and flame enthusiasts” not “quick fix burger munchers” – choose life – choose WISDOM (whose name is JESUS).