My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth.
So do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands… free yourself!
Summary: Solomon describes a problem we have all faced. It is sometimes difficult to recognize until we feel the trap close around us. Then our whole focus needs to be on getting out of the trap.
There are three points here that need to be explored together. The first point is Solomon’s warning against us taking on a debt for someone else. The second point involves what that debt does to you if you take it on. The third point is the cure.
- Problem statement.
- Consequence.
- Cure.
The classic framework for problem-solving analysis.
One of the important characteristics of this “problem” or situation is the size of the obligation being taken on. This is not chicken feed we are talking about. The amount of money involved is enough to cause serious problems if not paid.
The consequence of taking on this kind of obligation is twisted. The obvious consequence is taking on the debt owed to the creditor. The twist is that you (the person Solomon is talking to) are also under the control of the person you are trying to help.
How does that work?
Why would you put up security for a neighbor? The answer is because they asked you to. You do it because you want to help them and, of course, they make all kinds of promises about what they will do to protect you and the security you have put up. But what happens when you have put up the security? The pressure is off of them and on you. You now have all the liability and none of the control. You are totally at the mercy of the person you are trying to help.
Even if they are the nicest person on the planet with the best of intentions, they still have no incentive to take risks or work hard. By stepping in and carrying their liability for them, you have taken away their reason to risk moving ahead. You have “fallen into your neighbor’s hands.”
What is the cure for this situation? Get free of it! Now. Fast.
Do not waste time, do not hope for something to come along and make it better. Get free of your obligation.
How? Verse four says “Go- to the point of exhaustion — and give your neighbor no rest!” Wear them down with your insistence that you have to be free of your obligation. Be obnoxious. Look for every alternative. Make your neighbor want to free you from your obligation. Don’t let this hang over your head.
God does not want us to break our promise. That is not the way out. He wants us to realize the danger and find an honorable way out.
Application: The best defense against falling into a trap is to know where to look for them and how to avoid them.
Food for Thought: How much is it worth to “free yourself” in this situation?
My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger,
If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth, Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor. Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids; Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Proverbs 6:1-5
This is a strange one. First, we must apply the biblical definition of neighbor, because it also says stranger. This isn’t necessarily the person next door to you.
Second, for some reason you gave them money or a promise to help them. If I can borrow Jeff’s ‘more than just chicken feed’ to say, it was something big.
Third, this is when the Bible says save/deliver yourself. Ummmm, that’s unusual.
Fourth, the strategy is a paradox… Humble yourself and importune them. Or (storm against, urge severely, boisterous, to disturb, to alarm, to overcome) How does one be humble and do these other things? Because, if it didn’t say humble Is immediately think, ‘become the squeaky wheel’. But seriously, how does one make themselves obnoxious while being humble?
Fifth, accomplishing this is more important than sleeping. As important as a bird escaping a trap. Which I suppose answers Jeff’s question, it is worth all of your rest and all of your effort, to regain your life.
A —
Good morning! Nice synopsis. And yes, the question becomes one of ‘What is your freedom worth?’
This last two years has reminded me of what my freedom is worth. In fact, it may be a good application to today’s question. We all were given misleading information one way or another and were considered by the societal and governmental pressure to be obliged to conform. We were trapped by an obligation, that in this case, was forced upon us.
We all handled this different ways. Yet many people longed to be free. And we all sought righteous ways to deal with this pressure.
The best case scenario is not getting caught in the trap. But once we are in, seek God in prayer and trust Him to lead. Then, listen to and obey His leading. Fear Him and not your neighbor or whoever is in apparent control. God is ultimately in control and we would be better to please Him rather than people please. Proverbs 1: 7: Proverbs 9: 10; Psalm 118: 8 – 9; Proverbs 3: 5 – 6.
Rich,
Thank you for the point you are making. I agree. In fact, looking back, I can see the same kinds of entrapment going back many decades. Being “snared with words” is no less of a trap than being caught in a bear trap, even though it is less obvious.
03-08-2022, Proverbs 6:1-3, 5a, How much is it worth to “free yourself” in this situation?
The situation is someone has placed themselves in bondage to another by putting up security for their neighbor, shaken hands in pledge, are now trapped by what they said, ensnared by the words of their mouth, fallen into their neighbor’s hands, and now give their neighbor no rest.
And the question is “How much is it worth to free ourselves” in this situation.
The price to free ourselves from this situation is surrender our pride and all feelings of self worth. Stop serving our own ego and begin serving the Lord.
Jesus never told us to do this, in fact He tells us to not do this. Believers don’t swear oaths, and do not place themselves in bondage to another. We value our freedom form our flesh, live in the new, and do not put the old man back on.
In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us to never swear an oath by anyone or anything and simply say yes and no. He also tells us , give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. No one can serve two masters. We will hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and hate the other. We cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 5:34-37, 5:42, 6:24
Ron,
I really appreciate your response to today’s question. My tendency is to see myself pushing forward to some sort of resolution, but you are exactly right. The “price” for dealing with these types of situations has always been my pride. Well said!
Once again we go over scripture that feels like it is talking too me personally. It turns out the neighbor could possibly be someone close, so close it could be a family member.
Your question of how important is it to free yourself could be answered in scripture. Taking on that big of a promise can be a big stress, causing lack of sleep, loss of concentration, communication, stress can affect all parts of your life causing a crippling depression or even cutting your life shorter. So how much is your life worth? I know that someone was willing to sacrifice His life to help so many from a situation.
Amen, Tim!
Our Lord did indeed pay the price for our sin. In that sense he took on our obligations to God.
Thank you for a great insight!