Proverbs 6:1–5
My son, if you be surety for your friend, if you have stricken your hand with a stranger,
You are snared with the words of your mouth, you are taken with the words of your mouth.
Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, when you are come into the hand of your friend; go, humble yourself, and make sure your friend.
Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.
Deliver yourself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Does the wisdom handed down from God 3,000 years ago have any practical use for the modern world of billion-dollar corporations, socialist-run economies, and trillion-dollar stock markets?
Corporations and stock markets were introduced in the 19th century, and by the 21st century most of the major corporations had embraced the liberal agenda of homosexuality (and what was referred to as “wokism”). Large corporations built their empires, and then declared war on God. Those investing in the stocks were forced to support these corporate agendas. What wisdom, then, might be gleaned from these words to “equip the man of God to every good work?” The wisdom of the Proverbs warns here about joining hands, striking hands, borrowing money, and long-term partnering with either strangers or friends in business.
While buying and selling with strangers is an ordinary part of the Christian life, and complete avoidance of the world is not recommended in Scripture (1 Cor. 5:10ff ). There are limits to which the Christian is to yoke himself to the world (2 Cor. 6:14-16). Working for Potiphar or anybody else as an employee is one thing. But funding Potiphar’s operation and joining hand-in-hand with the ownership and control of the company is quite another. Long-term partnerships and loans are risky affairs. Values and objectives may clash. Bad decisions on the part of the other partner often results in crushed expectations and even financial ruin. Specifically, this instruction warns about partnering with another person in the borrowing of money. The bad faith of one party who fails to pay back the loan will tarnish the reputation of the partner. The New Testament is similarly cautious with borrowing money; Paul warns, “Owe no man anything, but to love one another” (Rom. 13:8).
Strangers are not to be trusted, as another wise saying puts it: “Stick to the devil you know.” The Scriptures present a generally negative view of human nature, and this is especially evident in the way unbelievers handle money. But what of a friend or a brother in Christ? The warning here is still apropos. Long-term business arrangements between friends, more often than not, will strain the friendship up to the breaking point. That being the case, is it more important to preserve the friendship rather than to risk breaking it up by doing business together? Scripture places the value of friendship over that of making money. Here the wise father instructs his son to “Make sure your friend.”
Those unable to pay a debt to a stranger have little reason to believe the stranger would take pity on them. The lender may very well pursue all legal means to ruin the poor borrowers. However, the debtor who is unable to pay back a friend risks losing his friendship.
For these reasons, the Bible discourages debt, co-signing loans, and any financial partnerships outside of “brother loans” and partnering with family members. The family remains the fundamental economic unit. Those related by blood are usually better prepared to see the entire household rise or fall together in the venture. These relationships can sustain financial disappointment. But church relationships are typically much more fragile and hardly ever survive a long-term partnership. Any slight mishap or misunderstanding in business may result in hard feelings, unresolved conflicts, the ruining of friendships, and the unwillingness to worship in the same church together. Much care and wisdom must be brought to bear before partnering or arranging for loans with those within the church.
The lesson conveyed here is mainly this—relationships are primary. The greatest virtue is love. All of the law is fulfilled in this: “Love God. And love your neighbor as yourself ” (see Mark 12:31). These relationships are to be preserved as much as possible. All efforts should be made to resolve conflicts or even to prevent unnecessary conflicts. The Lord Jesus ups the ante on relationships in the Gospels, requiring brothers in conflict to leave their gifts at the altar, and immediately reconcile before coming to worship (Matt. 5:24, 18:15). He urges conflict resolution and forgiveness between brothers as a way of life in the church—forgiveness offered 490 times, or seven times a day.
Relationships must never be sacrificed on the altar of material gain. Should we expect “cut rates” from a friend or church member who makes his living as a plumber? Those who rent a house from a brother in the church must be ever so careful not to delay rent payments; and those who hire a brother for a job should be extra careful to follow through on payment for the job. Extra care must be taken to follow through on short-term commitments made between friends. And, following the wisdom offered here, long-term business arrangements should be avoided. All financial agreements between friends are to be respected and performed with special care, because friendships are to be treasured and carefully preserved. In fact, the unity of the Body of Christ and the love of the brethren in the church is of such high value, the Apostle Paul encourages the Corinthian church members to allow themselves to be cheated before suing a brother or instigating a conflict in the church (1 Cor. 6:6-7).
1. What sort of a trap do you walk into when you borrow money from a good friend?
2. Do we value relationships as God would have us value them?