CHAPTER 15B
AVOIDING POVERTY “ LAZINESS” “Do not carouse with drunkards and gluttons: for they are on their way to poverty and too much sleep clothes a person in rags.” Proverbs 23:19b
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n the second part of this verse, Solomon is instructing us how to avoid poverty. Someone might ask “Then why is it talking about friendships and associations again?” The answer is: because one of the biggest factors that will influence your propensity to poverty are your friendships. As humans we have been made for interaction. Most of us realize to be isolated is abnormal. Think of the madman of the Gadarenes. He had 6,000 demons. Scripture tells us he lived alone in tombs. That is classic of Satan’s strategy, to try to either isolate or keep you around those who are more spiritually dead than yourself. You were made for community, for family, even the desire within you to belong and be accepted is God given. Solomon says that you must be careful however whom you allow to fulfill that need for community. Satan often attacks by bringing somebody into your life that will bring compromise. Equally, when God desires to bless 84
