Heralds Digest

  ““ Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant. ”” Proverbs 9 : 16 - 17 NKJV The difference between sweat and sweet appears to be the replacement of pain with pace without hardworking. Unfortunately, the moment sweat is removed from sweet, the leftover is simple shrewdness. Further on Christ’s exhortation to the disciples on the subject of steadfastness and stewardship in Luke 16, he referenced the commendation of a shrewd steward for his use of deception and smartness to achieve a short-lived sweetness within the camp of darkness. Whereas, in the real sense and as the scriptural digest for the day put it more succinctly, shrewd stewardship is practiced by those who are simple and lack the basic understanding of the dignity in integrity and uprightness. Actually, stolen water and secret bread are really not sweet and pleasant; but a surrendered slavery and futil...

  ““Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”” Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ Until truth catches up with dishonesty, stolen sweetness wears the label ‘sweet’ with pride and celebration. Such is the popular lie from a seductive woman, a deceptive partner, and a dishonest worker to gain a ‘pleasant’ pleasure, position, and prosperity. Unfortunately, the ‘stolen’ sweetness is always like a swollen sweetness filled with maggot and rotten eggs. It brings inescapable sickness, destruction, and sometimes death, after its temporary sweetness wears out. Sometimes, like it was with Achan in the Old Testament or Ananias and Sapphira in the New Testament, the true rottenness of the stolen sweetness comes out even before the deceptive sweetness. Little wonder the scriptures admonish believers that “ The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it ”...

““Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭9:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/pro.9.17.nkjv The concept of secrecy is extremely deceptive, and everyone is constantly tempted to take advantage of the unfortunate illusion. Being left alone or kept away from familiar personalities is perceived to provide the pleasant offers of secrecy. Whereas, all actions, both in the dark and in the open, are equally open to God. Even the thoughts of the heart are weighed by Him, ever before the hands go for the stolen water and the mouth swallow the secret bread. If not because of the foolishness of the heart, by refusing to acknowledge the ever presence of God in all of man's secret and silent moments and circumstances, it would have been easy to clearly say " Stolen water is bitter, and bread eaten in secret is actually unpleasant ". May all the righteous children of God be always open to grace that delivers from the deception of secret sin.