Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,

....  But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel (Proverbs 20:17)l Several translations have “food” here instead of “bread,” but the thought is much broader that literal food. Such translations also fail to capture the imagery of what is being said. In particular Proverbs 4:17 talks about eating the bread of wickedness and drinking the wine of violence.  It therefore seems best to interpret bread as that which is gained by deceit and falsehood, i.e. without labour, or by unrighteous means. We read in Proverbs 9:12 that ““Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”  That reference is likely to sexual immorality.  There is a “but” however, and it is that afterwards the one eating will find no satisfaction, rather it will result, if not in outright injury, then at least discomfort (mouth filled with gravel)!

The Bible does not pretend there is no pleasure in sin. The pleasures however do not last. In fact, we read about the “pleasures of sin” but we also read that they last only  “for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). So what about afterwards?  Well  “there is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof is death” (Proverbs 14:12). We reap what we sow, bad choices have bad fruit (Galatians 6:7). And part of this, is that “He who sins is the servant of sin (John 8:34). 

Many of us (yes me too), had to learn these things the hard way. We though we were getting away with it. The Galatians reference above starts of with “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.”  We were deceived, but the consequences of our choices caught up with us in the end.  The  agricultual analogy of sowing and reaping is interesting, because crop growth is slow and gradual. And part of why we thought we were getting away with it is that the consequences were cumulative, rather than immediate.  God cursed the earth “for our sake” (Genesis 3:17 NKJV), meaning the fact that sin has consequences,  is designed by God to lead us back to the shepherd of our souls (1 Peter 2:25).  And all this comes with an invitation “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance”  (Isaiah 55:2). I am reminded that Jesus came that we might have life in all abundance (John 10:10b).

Lord Jesus, we sing in the fellowship “I never want to go back to my old life.”  Many times Lord,  when we are tempted to do so, the memory of our “mouths full of gravel” helps us to choose to stay close to You.  But also Lord it is not just the stick, it is the carrot too, for when we are prepared to delay gratification, we can look forward to the pleasures at Your righthand for evermore (Psalm 16:11). And surly, as many as are mature keep  these things in mind. Thank You for reminding us of them this morning Lord, in Your precious Name Amen