Proverbs 17:18-19 

¹⁸One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor. ¹⁹Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

Handshake

         How do you normally greet someone. Intentionally politicians shake hand to greet anyone they meet and promote their political agenda.

         Before covid-19, handshake was a cultural way of greeting others.

         But after covid-19 turned into pandemic, handshake has become optional for hygienic precautions. Anyway, some culture prefer to embrace as expression of their amicable partnership. Do you embrace relatives?

         Seriously together, let’s reflect on what it narrated in Genesis 33:1-4.

         ¹Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. ²He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. ³He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. ⁴But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.

         Jacob left Canaan after he deceived his brother Esau twice. Esau held a grudge against him for many long years. Esau heard it when Jacob was returning to Canaan. And, he brought 400 men to meet his brother. Jacob was scared. So as precaution, he divided his family into groups. He hoped some of his children may escape to safety, if ever Esau attack them.

         But Esau embraced him. Esau even offered to accompany them in their travel but Jacob declined his  offer. So, Esau returned to his home.

         Esau offered to accompany them in their travel for security reason but Jacob declined it. Did Jacob feel not secured around his brother Esau?

1.  Security

     ¹⁸One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor.

         The term “neighbor” may include friends, relatives, acquaintances but more or less closer to associates. Neighbor implies anyone we know but neighbor is not necessarily our confidant whom we can entrust a secret. It’s foolish to put up security or pledge for anyone we cannot fully trust, right?

         Did someone borrow money from you? Don’t waste your resources away. How? Learn from the bank. Banks require collateral from borrowers. A collateral is deposit or pledge that guarantees repayment of loans.

         If the loan is paid on the agreed timeframe, the collateral is returned.

Moneylenders expect borrowers to pay what they borrowed on an agreed timeframe. But without collateral pledge, borrowers provide excuses not to pay their debt on agreed timeframe. On social media, angry moneylenders shame or embarrass borrowers who don’t pay on an agreed timeframe.

         Christians are expected to love neighbors, so they take advantage of Christians. How can we love our neighbors who don’t pay or cannot pay?

Good Samaritan

         Let’s learn from the Good Samaritan about loving neighbor. A victim of robbery needed help. A Levite and a priest disregarded him. Levites and priests were experts of the Law of God, but they did not practice what they know. Possibly, they were selective of which command of God they wanted to practice. In comparison, the Samaritan was no expert of the commands of God. He was simply compassionate. Let us reflect on Luke 10:33-35.

         ³³A Samaritan came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

         The Samaritan may have been a travelling merchant. It didn’t mention he had extra money. He just helped the victim. Loving neighbor is kindness and goodness to others. Loving neighbor don’t expect repayment. We, as Christians, believe that everything we have is from the Lord, and we’re just stewards. How do you interpret 2 Corinthians 9:10-11? ¹⁰He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

         In preparation for eternal residency in heaven, we familiarize obeying God prayerfully. The Word of God is written revelation how obeying him is blessedness. Knowledge of the Scripture is useful but it can be weird also. Scholars may argue about belief. Argument may spark quarrel or squabble.

2.  Squabble

     ¹⁹Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

          Quarrel may start as light squabble or argument. Quarrel is triggered by sin, transgression or rebellion to God. Quarrel is oppose to kindness and goodness or love. Most often, quarrel breaks out when they have to defend their personal right, position, stance, opinion, views or even doctrinal belief.

         And quarrel is also expression of pride. Pride wants to be separated from others. Quarrel is like building high gates. Rich people build high gate to be separated. High gate may imply flaunting or boasting of wealth. High gate practically announces that the owner can afford expensive structure.

         Both quarrelsome people and people who build high gates may invite destruction. How? High gate should be protective measure. Right? Wait!

         If they can build high gate, they must have precious things to protect inside. Bad elements of society with destructive mindset may conceive that idea. Likewise, quarrel may destroy of relationship or friendship. When Job and his friends argued, the Lord made it very clearly in Job 42:7, ⁷The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.”

         Eliphaz and his two friends passionately argued that Job must have sinned so that the Lord punished him. In contrast, Job was just sentimental about his painful suffering when he responded to the arguments of his friends. Job pleaded that they should stop accusing him of wrongdoings. And the Lord even commended that Job did not sin for what he said.

         Most often, argument could create animosities. Someone argued that he just expressed frustration. Can we quarrel, squabble or argue without committing sin? If misunderstanding causes an argument and both parties involved accept their mistakes after clarification, did they commit sin?

         Someone said, “The offense is clearly seen by anyone except for the offender.” When we realize that we offended others, we should prayerfully admit our mistake and seek forgiveness from the Lord. Reflect on what it declares in Psalm 32:1-2, ¹Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. ²Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

         Have you been involved in an argument? What’s the issue behind it? Were you offended? Did your argument end in quarrel or animosity? What righteous behavior have you practiced during argument? Pray for wisdom and enlightenment whenever you sense an argument or quarrel may start.

         Let’s pause for a moment. Let’s ask God to fill us with the Spirit of wisdom and revelation and help us discern which practical step we should take to bring glory to his name instead while we wait for the return of Christ.

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