Similitudes, Instructions

Proverbs 25; I die daily devotional.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; ²² For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you. ²³ The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

Funny thing, Laura and I sort of unexpectedly made alter egos for when we both found ourselves in a negative state. I’d say it happened organically as our conflicts progressed in a playful manner, we weren’t too upset to notice something was off about our treatment of one another when these conflicts manifested; usually because some sort of bodily necessity was being neglected or hadn’t been disciplined to emotional control. So we switched the first initial of our name’s when addressing the ego that is not our person, but a mysterious necessity requiring attention.

YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY

Laura and I would be at the kitchen table in silent thought until, “What are you thinking?”. Laura could tell when I wasn’t present with her even if we were in silence. After thinking about her question, “Nothing.” I would say, but my tone was off. I sounded annoyed because the truth was – I was. I didn’t want to be interrupted from what I was thinking, especially since we were already in silence, but the issue was something deeper; the issue was “Lathan”. Lathan is the guy that manifests as an enemy to my wife by responding with a callous undertone that is the truth to the lie of, “Nothing”. However, when Laura notices Lathan, there is a choice she processes internally to that enemy and the choices are: feed em or initiate Naura.

FEED EM

Now if Laura initiated Naura while Lathan was already on the verge of take over, the chaos of these two alter egos converge a very real reality that sends us down a spiral of unintentional infliction of pain. Well…it’s intentional for the egos, but not for Nathan or Laura after the demolition is complete and forgiveness extended. However, if Laura overlooking the undertone in a way to feed Lathan should convict my conscience by that act of love and service. At which point Lathan is quenched, and Nathan changes his attitude to reflect the true nature of who saved his soul, or at least … that’s my hope of practice.

• Who is your alter ego (your enemy)?
• What should you do about it?
• How do you manage the balance?
• Will you change your behavior into the reward?

Resource

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Proverbs 25 (NASB) – blueletterbible.com
¹ These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transcribed.² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.³ As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, And there comes out a vessel for the smith;⁵ Take away the wicked before the king, And his throne will be established in righteousness.⁶ Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men;⁷ For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here, ”Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.⁸ Do not go out hastily to argue your case; Otherwise, what will you do in the end, When your neighbor humiliates you?⁹ Argue your case with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret of another,¹⁰ Or he who hears it will reproach you, And the evil report about you will not pass away.¹¹ Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances.¹² Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.¹³ Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.¹⁴ Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely. ¹⁵ By forbearance a ruler may be persuaded, And a soft tongue breaks the bone.¹⁶ Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, That you not have it in excess and vomit it.¹⁷ Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house, Or he will become weary of you and hate you.¹⁸ Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.¹⁹ Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble. ²⁰ Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda, Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart. ²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; ²² For you will heap burning coals on his head, And the LORD will reward you. ²³ The north wind brings forth rain, And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.²⁴ It is better to live in a corner of the roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman. ²⁵ Like cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a distant land. ²⁶ Like a trampled spring and a polluted well Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked. ²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey, Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory. ²⁸ Like a city that is broken into and  without walls Is a man who has no control over his spirit.