Proverbs 23 7 For as he thinks in

Proverbs 23: 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you. Very familiar – Often Quoted Text

Proverbs 23: 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you. Usually applied to positive thinking Idea: Think rich to be rich Think you have ability to have ability

Proverbs 23: 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

Proverbs 23: 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you. Two Faced Pretends Generosity Really Isn’t

“As a Man Thinks, So is He

“As a Man Thinks, So is He” I. The Meaning

I. The Meaning A. Point is not positive thinking 1. 2. 3. 4. Positive thinking is important An “I can” attitude is Biblical (Phil. 4: 13) Is true – that must think you can before you can But that is not the point of this text!

I. The Meaning A. Point is not positive thinking B. Context: is a miser

Proverbs 23: 6– 8 Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; 6 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you. 7 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, And waste your pleasant words. 8

I. The Meaning A. Point is not positive thinking B. Context: is a miser 1. Verse 6 • • • 6 A warning about eat the food of a miser Miser = one who stingy Translations: “stingy” (ESV), “selfish” (NCV), “begrudging host” (NIV), “tightwad” (Messenger) Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies;

I. The Meaning A. Point is not positive thinking B. Context: is a miser 1. Verse 6 2. Verse 7 • “as thinks in heart” Ø Ø 7 “inwardly calculating” (ESV) “like someone calculating the cost” (NET) “always thinking about the cost” (NIV) “like a hair in the throat, so are they” (NRSV, LXX) For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

I. The Meaning A. Point is not positive thinking B. Context: is a miser 1. Verse 6 2. Verse 7 • • “as thinks in heart” Says: “eat and drink” Ø “Eat more – eat all you want” Ø Know what he should say – what is expected – and wants the credit for it! 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

I. The Meaning A. Point is not positive thinking B. Context: is a miser 1. Verse 6 2. Verse 7 • • • “as thinks in heart” Says: “eat and drink” Doesn’t mean it at all Ø Thinking otherwise Ø Hoping the guest will not eat – because of the cost Ø His words “eat…” stick like a hair in your throat! 7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.

I. The Meaning A. Point is not positive thinking B. Context: is a miser 1. Verse 6 2. Verse 7 3. Verse 8 • • Will vomit up what eaten = attitude of the host will make you sick Waste pleasant words – Your thanks & compliments are wasted (cf. NIV) 8 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, And waste your pleasant words.

I. The Meaning A. Point is not positive thinking B. Context: is a miser C. Summary of the text 1. 2. 3. 4. Miser is not generous (Isa. 32: 5) He feigns his generosity – saying “eat and drink” However, his THINKING is not same as his words As he thinks – that is the real man!

“As a Man Thinks, So is He” I. The Meaning II. The Application

II. The Application A. Hypocrisy – Pretend to be what we are not 1. Put on a front – what want others to think • • Mark 7: 6 – put on front of praise – heart not there Matt. 23: 25 -27 – clean on outside – filthy inside 2. But are really happy with the real self (may not show)

II. The Application A. Hypocrisy – Pretend to be what we are not B. What one thinks is the real person 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Feigns generosity – but thinks stingy Feigns love – but thinks hatred Feigns purity – but thinks lust Feigns cares – but thinks thoughtless Feigns agrees – but thinks not true Feigns interest – but thinks don’t care Feigns spiritual priority – but think money / material Feigns devotion to family – but thinks work / others Feigns forgiveness – but thinks getting even

Money / Material Sensual Hatred “as he thinks in his heart, so is he”

II. The Application A. Hypocrisy – Pretend to be what we are not B. What one thinks is the real person C. Think in harmony with what should / want to be 1. Phil. 4: 8 – think on these in view of becoming 2. Gear our thinking to what need to be a. When realize – impression I’m leaving is not the way I think or feel – then change my thinking! b. Think about being honest c. Think about being generous d. Think about caring e. Think about being spiritual

II. The Application A. Hypocrisy – Pretend to be what we are not B. What one thinks is the real person C. Think in harmony with what should / want to be D. Disappointment at exposure of real thinking 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Sick – like a hair in the throat When realize fellow Christian – not what claiming When realize friend – not the friend you thought When realize family member – not as devoted as act When realize the surface is not genuine!

“As a Man Thinks, So is He” I. The Meaning II. The Application