When Sharks Won’t Bite
One who is full loathes honey from the comb.
Proverbs 27:7
My children were thrilled, but I felt uneasy. During a vacation, we visited an aquarium where people could pet small sharks kept in a special tank. When I asked the attendant if the creatures ever snapped at fingers, she explained that the sharks had recently been fed and then given extra food. They wouldn’t bite because they weren’t hungry.
What I learned about shark petting makes sense according to a proverb: “One who is full loathes honey from the comb, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet” (Proverbs 27:7). Hunger—that sense of inner emptiness—can weaken our discernment as we make decisions. It convinces us that it’s okay to settle for anything that fills us up, even if it causes us to take a bite out of someone.
God wants more for us than a life lived at the mercy of our appetites. He wants us to be filled with Christ’s love so that everything we do flows from the peace and stability He provides. The constant awareness that we’re unconditionally loved gives us confidence. It enables us to be selective as we consider the “sweet” things in life—achievements, possessions, and relationships.
Only a relationship with Jesus gives true satisfaction. May we grasp His incredible love for us so we can be “filled to the measure [with] all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19) for our sake—and the sake of others.
By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
REFLECT & PRAY
Those who see Jesus as the Bread of Life will never be hungry.
What are you most hungry for in life? Why does Jesus fulfill you in a way that nothing else can?
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SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Proverbs has much to say about relationships (10:12; 16:28; 17:9-10; 18:24) and the importance and value of having godly friends (12:26; 13:20; 17:17; 22:24-25; 24:1-2). Here in Proverbs 27, Solomon celebrates the value of having a true friend (vv. 5-6, 9-10, 17). Trustworthy friends are those who are involved in your life and are loving enough to confront and provide correction; they aren’t afraid to hurt you momentarily in order to protect you from irreparable harm (vv. 5-6). Their heartfelt and honest counsel are welcomed like the delightful aromas of perfumes and incense (v. 9). True friends are those who remain close by and are always there for you, providing comfort and support in times of need (v. 10). A true friend makes you a better person (v. 17). K. T. Sim
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