Day 195, Year 1

Dining with the Ruler 

“When you sit down to dine with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you, And put a knife to your throat If you are a man of great appetite.” (Proverbs 23:1-2 NASB) 

Many believers describe the experience of being face-to-face with Jesus as akin to the two lovers in the Song of Solomon, two hearts beating as one. I do not object to describing the relationship between the Lord and us in such a sweet manner. However, today’s verse might be more fitting in the light of the Book of Revelation chapter 3. This is because Jesus is described there as the head of the church, and He more or less resembles a ruler when He comes into our lives. Of course, believers need to avoid two extremes: first, regarding Jesus as an equal partner, even making Him our servant, always at our beck and call; second, viewing Him as a condescending figure who only treats people solemnly and gives orders. Both extremes are wrong.

The verse on the previous days mentioned, “I … with him, and he with Me.” When we are with the Lord, even though we dine together, Jesus always takes the lead. Today’s verse advises us to consider carefully who Jesus Christ is before us. This could help us adjust our attitude, tone, and content of our speech so as to suit our role as His servants. However, dining with Him in our lives allows us to address our problems from an alternate perspective with His help.

Today’s verse advises that when dining with a ruler, if we are aware of our covetous appetite, we should exercise restraint as if putting a knife to our throats. In other words, we all likely restrain our inappropriate desires when facing Jesus. Actually, eating is not the main focus during dining, but rather sharing with one another. In my opinion, when in the presence of the Lord Jesus, the amount of grace we receive may not be the focus. In fact, our problems will likely present before Him. Hence, when we are in His presence, we should not only exercise restraint but also share with Him our various problems and needs, seeking His help and guidance. And He will surely help those who earnestly seek Him. Perhaps, Jesus could remove our wrong desires on a deeper level and replace them with His own. Instead of a throat-slitting knife, may the “knife” in the verse become His surgical tool to handle the various problems in our spirits and souls, such as greed and idolatry, thereby enabling us to enjoy His long-lasting presence and communion.

Reflection questions:

1) How would you describe your current relationship with Jesus? Would you need to adjust your attitude toward Him when facing Him?

2) What problems or needs in your life would you want the Lord Jesus to address promptly? How could you cooperate with Him?