6 Words of Wisdom

Read Proverbs 23:1-3, 6-8, 20-21; Ecclesiastes 10:16-17

This chapter challenges mindless eating.

One might argue that the Bible doesn’t tell us exactly what choices to make when it comes to eating. There Is no specific command; therefore, we can do what we want. That is shallow, and a misunderstanding of what it means to fear God and follow Jesus. God commands us to seek wisdom, and that is what this chapter is about.

Wisdom books tell us what to do and why to do it, but sometimes the examples don’t fit. We would guess that no one reading this book is the son of an earthly king. That doesn’t mean instructions to kings should be ignored or deemed inapplicable. At the very least, these proverbs teach us that we should think and wonder what would please God in our specific situations.

Who doesn't wish he were the child of a king? Movies are written about it, and perhaps for some of us, our hearts jump at the opportunity to imagine ourselves in the role. Proverbs gives us a chance to think about being a child of a king because it is a collection of sayings that a king intended to pass on to his son. Similarly, Ecclesiastes, which was likely written by King Solomon, concludes with the appeal to a son: “And further, my son, be admonished by these.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12a)

What kinds of things does the son of a king need to keep in mind when it comes to food, character, and leadership?

Proverbs 23:1-3

When you sit down to eat with a ruler, Consider carefully what [is] before you; And put a knife to your throat If you [are] a man given to appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, For they [are] deceptive food. (Proverbs 23:1-3, NKJV)

The phrase “given to appetite” comes from the Hebrew word nep̄eš, which is often translated as "soul." It comes from a root meaning "breath." A more accurate interpretation might be, “when your soul desires” or “if you have a deep craving.” Sound familiar?

This is also interesting: “delicacies” means something you savor, or something seasoned. It is most often translated as “meat.”

Can you imagine the scene a little better now? A ruler, probably a young man, smells the food perfected for another ruler. It's the best cut of meat, steaming with heat and covered with the best seasoning. He wants it. His soul wants it, but the man offering this meal may be asking him to compromise. What should he do? He should save his people pain. Cut his own throat if he has to. The people of the land shouldn't get a bad deal because the ruler sees some food he wants. A ruler was to prioritize his people.

Proverbs 23:6-8

When dining with a stingy person, the lesson shifts to understanding the hidden costs of their hospitality.

Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so [is] he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you. The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, And waste your pleasant words. (Proverbs 23:6-8 NKJV)

A miser’s generosity is hollow, and any indulgence at his table may come with strings attached. This passage suggests that a young ruler should assume he is paying a price for everything he consumes when eating with this kind of person.

Proverbs 23:20-21

Do not mix with winebibbers, [Or] with gluttonous eaters of meat; For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe [a man] with rags. (Proverbs 23:20-21, NKJV)

The word for “winebibbers” (sāḇā') means people who over-drink, to get drunk. That might lead us to believe that the food sin is also overeating, but we think we should take a more careful look at it. What does the phrase “gluttonous eaters of meat” mean? “Gluttonous eaters” is zālal, a verb meaning to do something vile or worthless. The root means ‘poured out.’ We might say, “Yuck, dump that out.” The literal understanding of the phrase is “to be doing vile meat.” It is rebellious or worthless eating.

In the Old Testament, there were several ways to 'do vile meat' that weren’t overeating (“gluttony”). Certain meats were unclean or vile. Meat that wasn't cooked enough was vile. The passage wasn’t necessarily talking about eating too much. The passage was talking about rebellion shown through eating.

Maybe when Daniel was taken into Babylonian captivity, he had all of these verses from Proverbs 23 in mind. He was offered the king’s rich food and wine. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank” (Daniel 1:8, partial, NKJV). We might think that rejecting the Babylonian King's food would lead to hardship for Daniel. Would it insult the king? He was turning down the king's food, as Proverbs 23 suggests. In the end, it led to prosperity for Daniel and the people of Israel.

Ecclesiastes 10:16-17

Woe to you, O land, when your king [is] a child, And your princes feast in the morning! Blessed [are] you, O land, when your king [is] the son of nobles, And your princes feast at the proper time--For strength and not for drunkenness! (NKJV)

When a nation was led by an immature king (“child”, naʿar, refers to a youth under 20, not yet military age) and self-indulgent princes, the people suffered. The leaders prioritized pleasure—feasting and drunkenness—over their responsibilities. Conversely, a wise king ensured that eating happened at the proper time and for the right purpose: “for strength”.

The son of a king wasn't supposed to be mindless about food. He was to think carefully about it.

Take Aways

Let’s put the principles from these verses together.

• When a leader desires to taste some food, it may lead to bad leadership decisions.

• Leaders are told to do whatever it takes (cutting the throat) to avoid being fooled with food.

• Leaders must understand that people often have ulterior motives and expectations that come along with tasty food. Not understanding may leave a leader feeling sick instead of excited about food (vomit it out).

• Bad judgment with food can be a sign of immaturity and rebellion.

• Leaders can hurt their people, and food may be involved.

These verses address the complexities of ruling when food is involved. The message is, if you want or need to have more power among more powerful people, don't get excited about their food. You must be level-headed. The unreasonable way involves a lack of contentment, excitement about tasting something, and a misprioritization of food relative to the rest of life.

As onlookers, we might say the young ruler should be interested in ruling instead of in savory meat, but consider these questions: Do we prioritize our people when we eat? Are our people getting a bad deal when we eat? Do we compromise when we make food choices? Do these verses suggest that all of us should think about any direct or indirect consequences that eating a certain way brings?

My (Ginny’s) father smoked and died of lung cancer at the age of 57. His choices certainly affected us. I was angry with him for being so selfish, but the Lord used the situation to speak to me. I realized I needed to question myself. Was I doing something similar? For example, when I ate food mindlessly or even recklessly, was I messing things up for those I led? Would I hurt them in the long run?

Exercising Discernment

Food obedience in Proverbs isn’t about overeating. It is about discernment. Did we think first? Did we take advice? Do we really seek wisdom? Or are we allowing food to become a mindless indulgence?

We can use the word “wise” when we really have just deceived ourselves: “I think it's wise for me not to start my diet today because Thanksgiving is next week.” “It isn’t wise for me to be distracted by thinking about eating now. Life is too busy. I have too much on my plate.” Or, “I think it’s the wise way because my mom did it. She was wise.”

How do we get accurate and true wisdom about food? The very first thing is being willing to stop and think. For many of us, that’s new when it comes to food. The second thing is to be willing to change. For example, if you hear of a person who has success by talking openly about what he should eat with his spouse, do you think, “Oh, no. We aren’t going there.” If you are opposed to all options ahead of time, then you don’t want wisdom.

Fear of the Lord is a prerequisite to wisdom. Practically, that means we must be willing to think. We must humble ourselves to do whatever it takes.

I, Nate, went to a dinner to fellowship with about 40 brothers in the Lord. I walked up to the food table and wondered, “What do I need tonight?” I had been really active that day. I needed some protein and salt. I didn’t need a lot more carbohydrates or calories because I had eaten those while being active. I wondered if anyone else in the room had thought about what they needed to eat. What do you think? How common is it for people to ask questions like, “What do I need?” How can we practice mindful eating?

Writing Our Own Proverbs

If we are seeking wisdom about food, it is okay to express those as proverbs of our own, just like it is okay for us to write poems or sing songs of our own. Could a proverb be written about our food choices and the potential aftermath?

Here are some ideas:

• “When the food smells great, and you want more and more tastes, think of your husband, kids, and grandkids. Choose to taste that life instead.”

• “I once said, ‘Let’s eat, let’s enjoy, no need to overthink it.’ Instead, I should eat for the exact energy I need.”

• “Think before eating: what we eat, when we eat, or why we eat.”

• “Healthy has a better aftertaste than delights.”

• “A fool’s plate is full of future regret.”

How do you make a proverb? Ask for wisdom in your situation. It can be poetic, profound, or creative, but it doesn’t have to be.

Take your time while penning your proverbs. Wisdom comes from the fear of God, the willingness to obey him, prayer, patience, and the advice of others.

Path to Wisdom

For the son of a king—and for us—mindfulness about food is not a burden; it is a path to wisdom and righteousness. Whether dining with a ruler, a miser, or in moments of personal temptation, the wisdom of Proverbs challenges us to approach food with discipline.

Proverbs reveals that food is not just nourishment—it’s a test of character. The way one approaches food reflects broader values: self-control, priorities, and consideration for others. For a leader (parents, bosses, elders), these qualities are even more critical, as their actions affect not just themselves but everyone under their care.

Eating and drinking the proper way at the proper time blesses the people, your people.

Post it:

Pen your proverb(s), and put it post it where you can see it often.

Reflection Questions

1. What would it be like to be one of the people in the moments these four passages describe? How would you react?

2. Who are your people? Are you compromising the well-being of your people when you make certain food choices? Explain.

3. Do you approach food and eating with discernment, gratitude, and purpose? What does that look like for you?

4. Describe your purpose for eating.