Proverbs 23:6-8

"Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; do not desire his delicacies; for he is like one who is inwardly reckoning. 'Eat and drink!' he says to you; but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the morsels which you have eaten, and waste your pleasant words" (Proverbs 23:6-8 RSV).

Comment:

Finding juicy passages like this is one of the fringe benefits of this work! I think the spiritual teaching behind the words is quite clear. With someone who is 'stingy,' there is no free lunch! You can be sure he has an ulterior motive—he wants something from you. He's 'inwardly reckoning' to play you to his advantage. You can't relax, accept, and enjoy such a meal; the negative energy to which it is attached will overwhelm your 'pleasant words,' and may literally make you sick.

Notice that this is not about judging such a stingy person. It's about discerning the nature of the man, and making your choices accordingly. Judging only reinforces a sense of separation, which is always a step in the wrong direction. So we bless him; but we don't choose to share his meal. It may seem free, but the price in aggravation would be very high indeed.

Blessings!

Rev. Ed