Dangerous Dainties. 2
Back to Arthur Pink
"And put a knife to your throat, if you be a man given to appetite" (Proverbs 23:2). This is strong language, is it not? Yes, and the subject calls for it. So very few realize the fearful consequences which follow from a disregard of that command of Christ's, "Take heed what you hear" (Mark 4:24). False doctrine has the same effect upon the soul as poison does upon the body. But Satan appeals to the pride of so many, and succeeds in making them believe they are immune, that they are so "well established in the Truth" that listening to error cannot injure them. Therefore does the Holy Spirit say, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners" (1 Cor. 15:33): not they may, but DO! Yes, even though you are quite unaware of it. "And put a knife to your throat, if you be a man given to appetite." This is plainly a word of warning for those who are consumed with curiosity to hear every new "evangelist" or "Bible-teacher" who comes to town; those who have an insatiable appetite to sample every religious "feast" that is spread in their community. That is what is meant by "a man given to appetite": one who craves to hear the latest pulpit or platform sensationalist.
To all such God says, Take yourself in hand, and use no half measures to check this dangerous tendency. It is at your imminent peril you disregard this Divine admonition. If you disobey, Satan will either slay you, or else drug and put you soundly to sleep. "Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful food" (Proverbs 23:3). Yes, he has "dainties" to offer you: that is why so many are attracted to his table. These "dainties" are skillfully varied to meet different tastes. For "prophetic students" they are spicy items from the newspapers, served under the name of "signs of the times." But these are "deceitful food," for they leave the soul starved and barren: there is no spiritual nutriment in them! For the energetic young people, there is a pleasing presentation of "Christian service," calling upon them to engage in "work for the Lord": these too are "deceitful food," for they neither edify (build up) nor lead to a closer walking with Christ; instead, they take the eye off Christ, unto the "perishing multitudes": as though God were unable to save His own elect without our assistance! "Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23) is God's word unto you.
For others there is a regular exposition of "our doctrines" which are indeed "dainties" unto those of a theological turn of mind. "Yes, but 'our doctrines' are Scripture doctrines, and surely they cannot be 'deceitful food'!" Ah dear friend, Satan frequently transforms himself into "an angel of light"; he knows full well that no harm will be done unto his cause while doctrinal dissertations are addressed to the intellect, and the conscience is not searched. Unless there be a practical application made of each Scripture doctrine, the heart is not touched nor the soul humbled; instead, pride is fed and the head is merely stuffed with a theoretical knowledge of the Truth. Mark this well: doctrine divorced from experimental and practical preaching is highly injurious!
What the writer and reader most need is not "dainties," but "bitter herbs" (Exo. 12:8) to purge us of pride, independency, self-love! We need to be fed "with the bread of tears" (Psalm 80:5) and "the water of affliction" (Isaiah 30:20). Only that ministry truly helps which causes us to mourn before God, which brings us into the dust, which makes us loathe ourselves. Perhaps some will reply, "I want a ministry where Christ is exalted." Good; but do you relish a ministry which gives you to see how un-Christlike you are in your ways, how little you are following the example which He has left us? A faithful and well-balanced ministry of "Christ" includes His teaching upon Discipleship, His claims and demands upon us, His precepts and warnings. Beware of flesh-pleasing "dainties," dear reader.
We pass over the intervening ones and come to verse 8 of Proverbs 23, "The morsel which you have eaten shall you vomit up, and lose your sweet words." Yes, if you are really a child of God, this is what the Spirit will, sooner or later, work in you. He will yet make your heart nauseated with those flesh-pleasing "dainties" which you now so much relish; He will yet cause you to turn with disgust from that which the empty professors feed upon with such avidity. We speak from painful experience. Sheep cannot thrive on that which goats eat! If your preacher is admired and eulogized by white-washed worldlings, you may be certain that his ministry cannot help you. If large crowds enthusiastically hear him, it is a sure sign that he is not ministering the Word in the power of the Spirit!
In closing, let us point out that all we have said above about "considering diligently" what preaching you attend, applies with equal force to listening on to the radio! "Take heed what you hear": if it does not make your conscience more tender, it will make it more callous. The same applies to your reading. The great majority of the "orthodox" and "sound" magazines being printed today, can only harm you, for they contain nothing to make you weep before God, nothing to increase the "fear of the Lord" in your soul, nothing that will lead to an increasing mortifying of your members which are upon the earth. If you have proven this to be the case, then from now on shun them as you would a plague. "Cease from man!" (Isaiah 2:22) and feed upon the Word.
Back to Arthur Pink